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Identifying Proteaceae: Serruria
Serruria is a relatively easy genus to recognize. However identification of
the species requires careful consideration of inflorescence structure, style/
floret shape (straight or curved), and leaf dimensions.
GROUP 1: HEADS IN RACEMES
Pin Spiderheads (Section Fasciflorae)
Florets straight in bud. A few florets borne on a short stalk in loose heads. Leaves tend to be very fine. This section contains a progression from panicle of many lax racemes to a panicle of capitula to a solitary capitulum, even within a species. Sefasc is the most widespread species with racemose heads.
S. candicans, fasciflora, inconspicua, krausii, viridifolia, zeyheri
Curly Spiderheads (Section Decipiensae)
Florets slightly to strongly curved in bud. Florets borne on a short common stalk in loose heads. Leaves very fine.
S. adscendens, collina, decipiens, glomerata, nervosa, roxburghii, rubricaulis
Stalked Spiderheads (Section Elongatae)
Long common peduncles over 80˙mm long (except Se conf, with long erect wavy stems). Inflorescence a panicle of heads or lax racemes. Leaves very stout. Florets straight in bud.
S. confragosa, leipoldtii, meisneriana, elongata, williamsii, "amoena"
Whip-leaf Spiderheads (Section Flagellifoliae)
Prostrate plants with trailing stems and secund leaves with 1-4 (usually 3) tips. Inflorescences of 4-10 florets with large floral bracts (similar to Se˙meis) are small.
S. decumbens, flagellifolia
Tulbagh Spiderhead (Section Triternatae)
Inflorescence an untidy dense corymb on a very short peduncle. The leaves are stout, approaching those of the Stalked Spiderheads in robustness. Florets straight in bud. Only one species: S. triternata
GROUP 2 SOLITARY HEAD (A CAPITULUM)
Paw Spiderheads (Section Acrocarpae)
Florets slightly to strongly curved borne in a solitary head with a conspicuous stalk. Styles may be hairy and retained on fruit. A montane group. Se˙acro and Se cygn, a resprouter, is the most widespread species with solitary heads.
S. acrocarpa, aitonii, cygnea, dodii, effusa, flava, fucifolia, incrassata, pedunculata, reflexa
Sessile Spiderheads (Section Millefoliae)
Straight florets and hairless styles. solitary head per branch inflorescence stalk absent, or if present, then hidden by tightly clasping leaves
S. deluvialis, hirsuta, rostellaris, villosa
Plants as above but with bottle-brush appearance owing to short leaves
S. brownii, millefolia
Involucred Spiderheads (Section Phylecoideae)
Solitary inflorescences, distinct stalk, florets straight (or very slightly kinked) in bud
= Lowland forms tend to be sprawling, involucral bracts are not very conspicuous
S. aemula, cyanoides, furcellata, linearis, pinnata, trilopha
= Mountain forms tend to be erect with conspicuous involucral bracts
S. florida, heterophylla, phylicoides, rosea
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