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Rabbitpaw Sceptre - Paranomus lagopus
The Rabbitpaw Sceptre is closely related to the Smoothleaf Sceptre of the Cederberg. The two species are in fact not easy to tell apart. Have a look at Rabbitpaw Sceptre - Paranomus lagopus and Smoothleaf Sceptre - Paranomus bracteolaris Interface to find out more about where the species change over.
The Rabbitpaw Sceptre has styles shorter than 10 mm long (versus 13-15 for the Smoothleaf Sceptre);
it tends to sprawl (vs erect in habit); the flowerhead has a short 0-30 mm long stalk covered with dense, shaggy hairs (vs 30-50mm long and woolly hairs).
In general, the Rabbitpaw Sceptre is smaller in its features than the Smoothleaf Sceptre.
A problem area occurs around Citrusdal where the two species tend to blend into confusing intermediates. More work is needed to determine if these are in fact two species, or two forms of the same species.
More data and material are needed from plants that do not conform to type. These data are essential for taxonomists to work out the details and dynamics of these two interesting species.
Flowering is recorded from September to December. New growth from October to March. Seeds are stored underground in ants nests. Plants are killed by fire, regenerating by seeds. Pollination is apparently by carpenter bees and beetles.
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