Serruria glomerata

Serruria glomerata, the cluster spiderhead, is a flower-bearing shrub that belongs to the genus Serruria and forms part of the fynbos. The plant is native to the Western Cape, occurring on the Cape Flats and Cape Peninsula. The shrub is erect and grows only 40 cm tall and bears flowers from August to October.

Serruria glomerata
Conservation status
Least Concern  (IUCN 3.1)[1]
Scientific classification
Kingdom:	Plantae
Clade:	Tracheophytes
Clade:	Angiosperms
Clade:	Eudicots
Order:	Proteales
Family:	Proteaceae
Genus:	Serruria
Species:	S. glomerata
Binomial name
Serruria glomerata (L.) R.Br.
Synonyms[2]
Leucadendron glomeratum L. Leucadendron sphaerocephalum P.J.Bergius Protea glomerata (L.) L. Protea patula Thunb. Serruria bergii R.Br. Serruria sphaerocephala (P.J.Bergius) Druce

Fire destroys the plant but the seeds survive. Two months after flowering, the fruit falls off and ants disperse the seeds. They store the seeds in their nests. The plant is unisexual. Pollination takes place through the action of insects. The plant grows in sandy soil at altitudes of 0–330 m.

In Afrikaans it is known as trosspinnekopbos.

References

1. Rebelo, A.G.; Mtshali, H.; von Staden, L. (2020). "Serruria glomerata". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. 2020. IUCN: e.T113237836A185575600. doi:10.2305/IUCN.UK.2020-3.RLTS.T113237836A185575600.en.
2. "Serruria glomerata". Plants of the World Online. Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew. Retrieved 9 January 2022.

External links

• Media related to Serruria glomerata at Wikimedia Commons
• "Threatened Species Programme | SANBI Red List of South African Plants". redlist.sanbi.org. Retrieved 14 January 2022.
• "Serruria glomerata (Cluster spiderhead)". biodiversityexplorer.info. Retrieved 14 January 2022.
• "Serruria glomerata | PlantZAfrica". pza.sanbi.org. Retrieved 14 January 2022.
• "Curly Spiderheads". proteaatlas.org.za. Retrieved 14 January 2022.