| Common name |
riemblaarsuikerbos, strap-leaf sugarbush |
| Scientific name |
Protea lorifolia (Knight) Fourc. |
| Family |
Proteaceae |
| Etymology |
Genus: Protea after the Greek god Proteus, who could change his form at will, because proteas have such a wide variety of forms.
Species: lorifolia means strap-like, referring to the shape of the leaves. |
| Distribution |
Widespread in the southern and south-eastern Cape of South Africa at altitudes of 450 m to 1400 m. |
| Native habitat |
This white-flowered form is found on the drier inland mountains, at Baviaans Kloof near Humansdorf, Cape Province. |
| Description |
Usually grows to 1.5 m - 2 m tall by 2 m wide. |
| Flowering/fruiting |
Usually has pink flowers but this is a particularly striking white-flowering form. |
|
Location |
You can find this plant below the Visitor Centre on the path from the Brunet Meadow to the source of the water cascades. It is in bed PR108b, which is a Rock Garden bed, devoted to members of the plant family Proteaceae. Here you will often see the White-cheeked Honeyeater, Phylidonyris niger, visiting the proteas. |
|
|
This is the first of the Proteas in flower at the Blue Mountains Botanic Garden Mount Tomah - most of the others flower in winter/spring.
The strap-leaf sugarbush requires full sun and well-drained soil, low in phosphates and nitrates. |
