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Afrikaanse Inligting
King-Gustav's Sceptre Septerpluimbos - Paranomus sceptrum-gustavianus
King Gustav's Sceptre is the most spectacular species in the genus Paranomus. Juvenile leaves are divided, but mature plants produce flat leaves. These flat leaves are unusual in that they have a venation atypical of most flowering plants - this is the origin of the scientific name meaning "besides the custom." King Gustav's Sceptre flowers from April to November.
Some 80 per cent of populations contain less than 10 plants. There is also a high mortality with many plants dying each year due to diseases. In old veld it is often difficult to find plants. It is possible that this is a strategy to escape diseases - grow fast, seed set and then die off. However, it may be that this species is being decimated by die-back diseases. Atlas data are essential in setting benchmarks to determine if populations are stable, or if diseases are wiping out our species. Such data also allow reserve managers to determine which species prefer different fire management and alien clearing treatments. The conservation of our floral wealth requires that we monitor populations of our rare - and not so rare - species.
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