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Afrikaanse Inligting
Hairy - Ld salicifolium
I was recently in the Purgatory Outspan area near to the road from Theewaterskloof Dam to Franschhoek. The area burnt about two-years ago. I found some Conebushes growing in a damp area, very near to a river and got a little confused about their identity. Surely they should have been Riverine Conebush - Leucadendron salicifolium? On closer inspection, I noticed that the young plants (<300 mm high) had hairy leaves. Ld sflm does not have hairy leaves and hence my problem. This got me to think that just perhaps I was dealing with Ld xanthoconus. My problem was exacerbated when higher up in the mountains I found the same Conebush growing on a plateau in a slightly dampish area, but not near a river. It might just have been damp here because of the winter rains and could quite easily have been bone dry in the summer, well at least to my eye. What Conebush did I have? Is there any good way to separate young Ld sflm and Ld xant plants?
Nigel Forshaw, Oakridge
The Delta-seed and Sunshine Conebushes all produce young plants with narrow, hairy, and twisted leaves. To a novice they all appear identical, but the hairs are different. However, without an adult plant to compare these leaves to, it is very difficult – in the field, look for clues in the skeletons!
Tony Rebelo
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