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Afrikaanse Inligting
Ld corymbosum stemless
In the Elandsberg PNR I noticed many Ld corymbosum plants that
had plenty of growth at the bottom of the bush but no characteristic long shoots up to 2m
high. These were not young plants. This was common on some plots at lower (and therefore
very wet) altitudes although I am not sure that this is significant. I believe that the
plants have been picked in the past for sheep to lie on. However, I do not know if the
stunted plants were previously picked. Other Ld cory at Elandsberg show normal
corymbose growth habit with long tall shoots.
Nigel Forshaw, Oakridge
The growth of Ld corymbosum is typical of all the corymbose proteas – Ld cory, Ld eric, Ld laxu, Ld loer, Ld rour, Ld uligg, and Ld uligu, represent the most typical of these. The young plant produces a densely branched bundle of fine branches with small leaves. These are the vegetative leaves and presumably function mainly for photosynthesis. From these come the reproductive stems: larger, thicker and with much bigger leaves, producing clusters of cones at yearly intervals, these rise erect and tall above the surrounding vegetation. Although older plants may have long reproductive stems, the vegetative stems always seem to remain at the base of the plant.
What is interesting about Nigel’s observation is that when the reproductive stems are removed (picked, cut in this case for bedding) they do not seem to be readily replaced. This is surprising and I would venture that it is due to the reproductive stems only being recently cut. I find it strange that plants would not replace the reproductive stems as soon as possible. It may just be possible that if the reproductive stems are cut too far back, they cannot resprout and the vegetative stems may not be able to change into reproductive stems. If this is the case, then these plants are effectively sterilized. Does anyone else have more information on this phenomenon?
Tony Rebelo
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