PLANTAE / PHANEROGAMAE / ANTHOPHYTA / PROTEALES / PROTEACEAE / PROTEOIDEAE / LEUCADENDREAE / LEUCADENDRON / COMOSUM / COMOSUM

Leucadendron comosum (Thunb.) R.Br. subsp. comosum
LC Indigenous Endemic
Morphological description

Shrubs 1.7 m, erect, developing from a single stem at the base. Branches whorled, robust, erect, glabrous, leaf scars knotty, cuticle thin and splitting into narrow strips. Leaves dimorphic, glabrous. Lower leaves acicular, terete with a shallow groove on the adaxial surface, rubro-mucronate, incurved-erect, 1 mm broad, in male plants up to 3.8 cm long, in female plants up to 4.4 cm long. Upper leaves becoming broadened, narrowly oblanceolate, obtuse, apiculate or subacute with a sharp mucro, longitudinally wrinkled when dry, in male plants up to 3.5 cm long, 3.5 mm broad, in female plants up to 4 cm long, 5 mm broad. Involucral leaves similar to the upper leaves, becoming more crowded, pale green or yellow, not concealing the head. Male inflorescence 1.1 cm long, 1.3 cm diam., sub-globose, solitary, terminal, usually with several others at the ends of branchlets arising from immediately below the central head, giving off a pleasant smell. Basal bracts variable, average 3.5 mm long, 1.5 mm broad, about 20 in number, lanceolate, glabrous, ciliate, acute, the inner swollen at the base and caudate. Floral bracts 2.5 mm long, 1.2 mm broad, lanceolate, acute, glabrous, short-ciliate above and long-crisped-ciliate below, surrounded below by a tuft of long crisped hairs. Floral bud 5.5 mm long, purple, glabrous, surrounded below by a dense tuft of long crisped hairs, somewhat clavate above, with a few hairs at the apex at first. Perianth tube 2 mm long, glabrous. Claw 2 mm long, glabrous, recurved 90°. Limb 2.3 mm long, glabrous, linear, concave, hooked. Anthers 1.5 mm long, somewhat curled upwards. Pollen triangular in polar view with somewhat concave sides 35 µ long and blunt apices, polar depth 19 µ. Stigma abortive, 1.5 mm long, clavate, entire, acting as a pollen presenter. Style 4 mm long, glabrous, narrower above. Hypogynous scales 1 mm long, terete, blunt. Nectar seen in the perianth tube above the hypogynous scales. Receptacle 7 mm long, 4.5 mm diam., clavate. Female inflorescence begins to flower when quite small but continues growing in length producing new florets above the old ones, 1.9-3.5 cm long, 1.6 cm diam. Basal bracts varying, the outer small, brown, deltoid, acute, thence enlarged, thickened at the base and caudate, the innermost apiculate, adjacent bracts connate in three spirals. Floral bracts 4 mm long, 4.7 mm broad, glabrous, broadly elliptic, apex sub-acute sometimes with a small tuft of hairs, laterally short-ciliate, thick and succulent below, reddened above, adaxial surface quite flat, with adjacent bracts connate in three spirals. Floral bud not seen, upper florets appear to be only half formed. Perianth tube 2 mm long, transversely compressed, thinly short-pubescent, purple, divided below. Claw 1 mm long, recurved 90°, laterals short-pubescent. Limb 0.8 mm long, glabrous. Staminodes 0.4 mm long, anterior absent. Ovary 0.7 mm long, somewhat' ovoid, glabrous. Style 3 mm long, glabrous, narrower below. Stigma 0.5 mm long, cleft, oblique. Hypogynous scales 0.9 mm long, tapering. Nectar seen welling up at the throat of the perianth tube. Receptacle 1.3 cm long, 8 mm diam., conical. Mature female head a cone up to 10 cm long, 4.5 cm diam., indehiscent, with brown bracts, spreading, glabrous, connate towards the axis. Fruits 9.5 mm long, 8 mm broad, compressed, flat, dusky, orbicular, winged, broadly notched at the apex, not shed for several years. From: Williams, IJM. 1972. A revision of the genus Leucadendron (Proteaceae). Contr. Bolus Herb. 3: 1-425. [All rights reserved]

Shrub, erect, up to 1.7 m high, dioecious. Leaves dimorphic, lower leaves needle-shaped, curved inwards, shallow upper groove, hairless, 38 x 1 mm in male plants, 44 x 1 mm in female ones, upper leaves broadened, narrowly oblanceolate, apex with sharp point, 35 x 3.5 mm in male plants, 40 x 5 mm in female ones; involucral leaves crowded, pale green to yellow, not concealing capitula. Male flowers in terminal, globose capitula, 11 x 13 mm; bracts hairless; flowers dark red. Female flowers in terminal, ovoid capitula, 35 x 16 mm; flowers dark red. Mature capitulum tapering towards base, 100 x 45 mm; bracts brown, spreading. Flowering time Oct., Nov. Fruit compressed, retained. From: Bredenkamp, GJ; Bredenkamp, CL. 2019. Proteaceae. In: CL Bredenkamp (ed.), A Flora of the Eastern Cape Province. Strelitzia 41(2): 1344-1363. South African National Biodiversity Institute, Pretoria. [CC BY]

Diagnostic description

L. comosum is a species with distinctly dimorphic foliage and dark red flowers. It often bears the longest cones in the genus. It is nearest to L. platyspermum but differs in having a smaller leaf which is acute at the apex, a male floral bud somewhat clavate, mature cone bracts thinner at the edges and a very much less broadly winged fruit. It grows on the Langeberg, Outeniqua and Swartberg mountain ranges and is never found, as is L. platyspermum, at low altitudes in the Caledon or Bredasdorp Divisions. From: Williams, IJM. 1972. A revision of the genus Leucadendron (Proteaceae). Contr. Bolus Herb. 3: 1-425. [All rights reserved]

Habitat

High altitudes. Soil derived from Table Mountain Sandstone. From: Williams, IJM. 1972. A revision of the genus Leucadendron (Proteaceae). Contr. Bolus Herb. 3: 1-425. [All rights reserved]

Sandstone mountain slopes; Eastern Fynbos-Renosterveld. From: Bredenkamp, GJ; Bredenkamp, CL. 2019. Proteaceae. In: CL Bredenkamp (ed.), A Flora of the Eastern Cape Province. Strelitzia 41(2): 1344-1363. South African National Biodiversity Institute, Pretoria. [CC BY]

Distribution

Relatively high altitudes along the Langeberg and Outeniqua mountain ranges, further inland on the Touwsberg, Roodeberg and Kouga mountains and furthest inland on the Klein Swartberg and Groot Swartberg ranges. From: Williams, IJM. 1972. A revision of the genus Leucadendron (Proteaceae). Contr. Bolus Herb. 3: 1-425. [All rights reserved]

Altitude

1000 to 1800 m

Occurrence records map

This map contains point-based occurrences at different locations

iNaturalist: BODATSA: Data partners records:

Residence status

Occurrence in the Flora of Southern Africa (FSA) countries and South African provinces. Residence status indicates if a taxon is indigenous, endemic, naturalised or invasive in a specific region. This data is based on specimen records and literature

FSA

SA

BOT

NAM

ESW

LES

WC

EC

NC

FS

GA

KZN

LP

MP

NW

Absent

Indigenous

Endemic

Naturalised

Invasive

Names and Sources

Accepted name
Leucadendron comosum (Thunb.) R.Br. subsp. comosum
Synonym(s)

Leucadendron aemulum R.Br.

Published in: Trans. Linn. Soc. London 10(1): 64 (1810)


Leucadendron deasii E.Phillips

Published in: Ann. S. African Mus. 9: 331 (1917)


Classification

KINGDOM Plantae

SUBKINGDOM Phanerogamae

PHYLUM Anthophyta

ORDER Proteales

FAMILY Proteaceae

SUBFAMILY Proteoideae

TRIBE Leucadendreae

GENUS Leucadendron

SPECIES comosum

SUBSPECIES comosum

57 results for Leucadendron comosum (Thunb.) R.Br. subsp. comosum

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Specimen records

Barcode: PRE0808536-0 Collector(s) & number: Kruger, FJ, 1343 | 1971-6-18

South Africa, Western Cape, Langeberg: near Naudesberg.

Data Resource: BODATSA View record

Barcode: SAM0019715-2 Collector(s) & number: Drege, CF, s.n. | -11-

South Africa, Western Cape, Langekloof Berg. Between Avontuur and Kliprivier.

Data Resource: BODATSA View record

Barcode: PRE0373108-0 Collector(s) & number: Deas, W, 1339 | 1914-4-

South Africa, Western Cape, PRINCE ALBERT DIV.; ZWARTBERG PASS

Data Resource: BODATSA View record

Barcode: PRE0373118-0 Collector(s) & number: Esterhuysen, EE, 6998 | 1941-11-27

South Africa, Eastern Cape, UNIONDALE DIV.; KOUGA MTS.; PEAK E. OF SMUTSBERG

Data Resource: BODATSA View record

Barcode: PRE0808638-0 Collector(s) & number: le Roux, GJ, 8 | --

South Africa, Western Cape, Mossel Bay: Ruitersbos.

Data Resource: BODATSA View record

Barcode: PRE0373105-0 Collector(s) & number: Esterhuysen, EE, 27957 | 1958-11-23

South Africa, Western Cape, UNIONDALE DIV.; KOUGA MTS.; SAPTOKOP

Data Resource: BODATSA View record

Barcode: NBG0250926-0 Collector(s) & number: Compton, STEU NO 12519 | --

South Africa, Western Cape, Zwartberg Mountains.

Data Resource: BODATSA View record

Barcode: SAM0056452-1 Collector(s) & number: Stokoe, TP, s.n. | 1942-12-

South Africa, Western Cape, Oudtshoorn Div. Swartberg.

Data Resource: BODATSA View record

Barcode: PRE0373111-0 Collector(s) & number: Esterhuysen, EE, 16329 | 1949-10-27

South Africa, Eastern Cape, UNIONDALE DIV.; KOUGA PEAK

Data Resource: BODATSA View record

Barcode: PRE0810674-0 Collector(s) & number: Weinberg, CP, 35 | 1977-5-24

South Africa, Western Cape, Ladismith Distrik: Klein Swartberg; Sanderige grond op kruin van Buffelsrivierpoort.

Data Resource: BODATSA View record

Barcode: NBG0085248-0 Collector(s) & number: Williams, IJM, 924 | 1966-10-15

South Africa, Western Cape, Uniondale Dist. Prince Alfred's Pass, near the summit.

Data Resource: BODATSA View record

Barcode: NBG0051751-0 Collector(s) & number: Compton, RH, 10791 | 1941-5-2

South Africa, Western Cape, Uniondale Dist. Avontuur Mountain.

Data Resource: BODATSA View record

Barcode: PRE0614433-0 Collector(s) & number: Schonken, CM, 291 | 1980-7-11

South Africa, Western Cape, WORCESTER; KWADOUSBERGE; KEEROMSBERG FARM

Data Resource: BODATSA View record

Barcode: PRE0373106-0 Collector(s) & number: Andreae, H, 1269 | 1928-12-27

South Africa, Western Cape, PRINCE ALBERT DIV.; KLEIN ZWARTBERG; KLOOF FACING N.

Data Resource: BODATSA View record

Barcode: PRE0281882-0 Collector(s) & number: McDonald, DJ, 2320 | 1993-10-5

South Africa, Western Cape, Ladismith District: Touwsberg; Summit of mountain. Ridge below and East of beacon.

General notes: Widespread common.

Data Resource: BODATSA View record

Barcode: NBG0250945-2 Collector(s) & number: Stokoe, TP, 1916 | 1928-12-

South Africa, Western Cape, Prince Albert Dist. Seven Weeks Poort mountains, northern slopes.

Data Resource: BODATSA View record

Barcode: NBG0250942-0 Collector(s) & number: Oliver, EGH, 3072 | 1969-12-30

South Africa, Western Cape, Swartberg above Kliphuisvlei just west of Waboomsberg.

Data Resource: BODATSA View record

Barcode: NBG0076191-1 Collector(s) & number: Williams, IJM, s.n. | 1963-7-30

South Africa, Western Cape, Uniondale Dist. Prince Alfreds Pass.

Data Resource: BODATSA View record

Barcode: NBG0250945-1 Collector(s) & number: Stokoe, TP, 1916 | 1928-12-

South Africa, Western Cape, Prince Albert Dist. Seven Weeks Poort mountains, northern slopes.

Data Resource: BODATSA View record

Barcode: PRE0456984-0 Collector(s) & number: Andreae, H, 1269 | 1928-12-27

South Africa, Western Cape, PRINCE ALBERT; KLEIN ZWARTBERG; KLOOF FACING N.

Data Resource: BODATSA View record

Barcode: PRE0715250-0 Collector(s) & number: Bohnen, P, 8663 | 1986-6-26

South Africa, Western Cape, KLEIN KAROO; BRANDRIVIER DIST.; KORTFONTEIN PLAAS. N FLANK VAN LANGEBERGE

Data Resource: BODATSA View record

Barcode: PRE0373119-0 Collector(s) & number: Pocock, MA, S247 | 1926-5-

South Africa, Western Cape, PRINCE ALBERT DIV.; SWARTBERG; SLOPES OF KOPPIES

Data Resource: BODATSA View record

Barcode: NBG0250918-0 Collector(s) & number: Oliver, EGH, 4598 | 1973-9-17

South Africa, Eastern Cape, Baviaanskloof Mountains between Smitskraal and Wilgehof.

Data Resource: BODATSA View record

Barcode: SAM0019716-0 Collector(s) & number: Drege, CF, s.n. | --

South Africa, Western Cape, Hooge Kraals Rivier.

Data Resource: BODATSA View record

Barcode: PRE0373117-0 Collector(s) & number: Williams, IJM, 924 | 1966-10-15

South Africa, Western Cape, UNIONDALE DIV.; PRINCE ALFREDS PASS; NR. THE SUMMIT

Data Resource: BODATSA View record

Barcode: NBG0051750-0 Collector(s) & number: Unknown, s.n. | 1949-3-29

South Africa, Western Cape, Hort Protea Garden. Kirstenbosch.

Data Resource: BODATSA View record

Barcode: NBG0250944-0 Collector(s) & number: Unknown, 20335 | 1932-9-

South Africa, Western Cape, From the Protea Garden, Kirstenbosch.

General notes: From the Protea Garden, Kirstenbosch. No particulars known.

Data Resource: BODATSA View record

Barcode: PRE0373107-0 Collector(s) & number: Oliver, EGH, 5388 | 1974-11-10

South Africa, Western Cape, ROOIBERG; SUMMIT OF RIDGE ABOVE ASSEGAAIBOSKLOOF

Data Resource: BODATSA View record

Barcode: PRE0549141-0 Collector(s) & number: Matthews, GC, 23 | 1977-9-3

South Africa, Western Cape, SWARTBERG PASS; PRINCE ALBERT DIST.; ON RD. FROM OUDTSHOORN TO PRINCE ALBERT

Data Resource: BODATSA View record

Barcode: NBG0152829-1 Collector(s) & number: McDonald, DJ, 2320 | 1993-10-5

South Africa, Western Cape, Ladismith Dist. Touwsberg. Summit of mountain. Ridge below and east of beacon.

General notes: Widespread common.

Data Resource: BODATSA View record

Barcode: NBG0250943-0 Collector(s) & number: Unknown, STEU NO 19353 | 1934-10-13

South Africa, Western Cape, Riversdale.

General notes: Grown Botanical Gardens Kirstenbosch.

Data Resource: BODATSA View record

Barcode: SAM0009032-0 Collector(s) & number: Deas, W, s.n. | 1915-1-

South Africa, Western Cape, Prince Albert Div. Swartberg [Zwartberg] Pass.

Data Resource: BODATSA View record

Barcode: PRE0373120-0 Collector(s) & number: Muir, J, 2743 | 1923-9-25

South Africa, Western Cape, RIVERSDALE DIV.; LANGEBERG MTS.

Data Resource: BODATSA View record

Barcode: NBG0250928-0 Collector(s) & number: le Roux, GJ, 8 | --

South Africa, Western Cape, Ruitersbos. Mosselbay.

Data Resource: BODATSA View record

Barcode: NBG0051753-0 Collector(s) & number: Wurts, TM, 1285 | 1954-8-18

South Africa, Western Cape, Ladismith Dist. Rooiberg summit.

Data Resource: BODATSA View record

Barcode: NBG0168399-0 Collector(s) & number: Oliver, EGH, 7464 | 1979-12-

South Africa, Western Cape, Groot Swartberg. Kangoberg middle N slopes.

Data Resource: BODATSA View record

Barcode: NBG0250941-0 Collector(s) & number: Oliver, EGH, 5388 | 1974-11-10

South Africa, Western Cape, Rooiberg, summit of ridge above Assegaaiboskloof

Data Resource: BODATSA View record

Barcode: NBG0250946-0 Collector(s) & number: Kruger, FJ, 1343 | 1971-6-18

South Africa, Western Cape, Langeberg, near Naudesberg.

General notes: Locally frequent.

Data Resource: BODATSA View record

Barcode: SAM0056452-2 Collector(s) & number: Stokoe, TP, s.n. | 1942-12-

South Africa, Western Cape, Oudtshoorn Div. Swartberg.

Data Resource: BODATSA View record

Barcode: PRE0197449-0 Collector(s) & number: Meyer, JJ, 419 | 1994-9-26

South Africa, Western Cape, Ladismith: onderkant Baileypeak. In Rooiberg.

General notes: Redelik volop.

Data Resource: BODATSA View record

Barcode: PRE0715251-0 Collector(s) & number: Bohnen, P, 8664 | 1986-6-26

South Africa, Western Cape, KLEIN KAROO; BRANDRIVIER DIST.; KORTFONTEIN PLAAS. N FLANK VAN LANGEBERGE

Data Resource: BODATSA View record

Barcode: SAM0019715-1 Collector(s) & number: Drege, CF, s.n. | -11-

South Africa, Western Cape, Langekloof Berg. Between Avontuur and Kliprivier.

General notes: Cited.

Data Resource: BODATSA View record

Barcode: PRE0642953-0 Collector(s) & number: Van Wyk, CM, 1011 | 1982-10-5

South Africa, Western Cape, LADISMITH; ANYSBERG; EAST END OF ANYSBERG, WEST OF LADISMITH

Data Resource: BODATSA View record

Barcode: SAM0019714-0 Collector(s) & number: Pappe, KWL, s.n. | --

South Africa, Western Cape, Houwhoek.

Data Resource: BODATSA View record

Barcode: NBG0170687-0 Collector(s) & number: Buys, MH, 486 | 1993-10-6

South Africa, Western Cape, Northern slopes of Touwsberg. Above farm Miskraal. Halfway up to trig 61.

General notes: Locally frequent.

Data Resource: BODATSA View record

Barcode: NBG0142716-0 Collector(s) & number: Van Jaarsveld, EJ, 5829 | 1980-11-13

South Africa, Western Cape, Naudesberg.

Data Resource: BODATSA View record

Barcode: NBG0076191-2 Collector(s) & number: Williams, IJM, s.n. | 1963-7-30

South Africa, Western Cape, Uniondale Dist. Prince Alfreds Pass.

Data Resource: BODATSA View record

Barcode: PRE0808677-0 Collector(s) & number: MacDevette, DR, 67 | 1978-6-19

South Africa, Western Cape, Kammanassie: plot 62

Data Resource: BODATSA View record

Barcode: PRE0803458-0 Collector(s) & number: Victor, JE, 466 | 1993-10-6

South Africa, Western Cape, FRD-sponsored expedition to Touwsberg. Ladismith / Barrydale; Northern slope of Touwsberg; Cliff face.

Data Resource: BODATSA View record

Barcode: PRE0456545-0 Collector(s) & number: Andreae, H, 1269 | 1928-12-27

South Africa, Western Cape, KLEIN ZWARTBERG; PRINCE ALBERT DIV.

Data Resource: BODATSA View record

Barcode: NBG0250939-0 Collector(s) & number: MacDevette, DR, 67 | 1978-6-19

South Africa, Western Cape, Kammanassie. Plot 62.

General notes: Seed collection.

Data Resource: BODATSA View record

Barcode: PRE0371673-0 Collector(s) & number: Marloth, HWR, 11336 | 1922-8-

South Africa, Western Cape, PRINCE ALBERT DIV.; ZWARTEBERG PASS

Data Resource: BODATSA View record

Barcode: NBG0051752-0 Collector(s) & number: Esterhuysen, EE, 6998 | 1941-11-27

South Africa, Eastern Cape, Uniondale Dist. Kouga Mountains Peak East of Smutsberg.

Data Resource: BODATSA View record

Barcode: PRE0714594-0 Collector(s) & number: Esterhuysen, EE, 6998 | 1941-11-27

South Africa, Western Cape, UNIONDALE DIV.; KOUGA MTS.; PEAK E OF SMUTSBERG.

Data Resource: BODATSA View record

Barcode: NBG0051755-0 Collector(s) & number: Wurts, TM, 1058 | 1953-7-15

South Africa, Western Cape, Ladismith Dist. Torenberg Mountain (locally called Elandsberg).

Data Resource: BODATSA View record

Barcode: NBG0250922-0 Collector(s) & number: Primos, R, 90 | 1928-12-

South Africa, Western Cape, Prince Albert Dist. Seven Weeks Poort Mountains.

Data Resource: BODATSA View record

Barcode: NBG0250920-0 Collector(s) & number: Van Wyk, CM, 1011 | 1982-10-5

South Africa, Western Cape, E end of Anysberg, W of Ladismith.

Data Resource: BODATSA View record

Plant occurence records per dataset

Plant occurence records per year

Occurrence records map

This map contains point-based occurrences at different locations

iNaturalist: BODATSA: Data partners records:

2019

SERIES CHAPTER

Proteaceae Bredenkamp, GJ; Bredenkamp, CL

In: CL Bredenkamp (ed.), A Flora of the Eastern Cape Province. Strelitzia 41(2)1344-1363

South African National Biodiversity Institute, Pretoria

1972

PERIODICAL/JOURNAL

A revision of the genus Leucadendron (Proteaceae) Williams, IJM

Contributions from the Bolus Herbarium 3: 1-425

No results found for Leucadendron comosum (Thunb.) R.Br. subsp. comosum

Status

Status and criteria

LC

Assessor(s)

Plantae Coordinator

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