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Protea odorata breathes its last?

Protea odorata has been going steadily downhill since its rediscovery earlier this century by Acocks. The Groenfontein populations, fenced from grazing with South African Nature Foundation (now WWF-SA) funds, succumbed to too-frequent fires, and our annual checks have found no plants there over the last 3 years. No plants were found at Kalabaskraal. The Riverlands Nature Reserve population has not been surveyed recently, so it may survive there. We know of only 4 existing wild plants - at Joostenberg - although there are rumours of 3 more.

Now! Groenrivier (the farm with the largest populations known in the past) has been subdivided into small-holdings. & Joostenberg has changed hands: the owner wants to plough for vines.

Adios Protea odorata! Who is looking after our plants?

Tony Rebelo

Swartland Sugarbush - Protea odorata

Read more about The Saga of Protea odorata

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