Paranomus

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Not to be confused with Paranomis.

Paranomus
Paranomus abrotanifolius Potberg 01.jpg
Paranomus abrotanifolius
Scientific classification e
Kingdom: Plantae
Clade: Tracheophytes
Clade: Angiosperms
Clade: Eudicots
Order: Proteales
Family: Proteaceae
Subtribe:
Genus: Paranomus
Salisb., 1807
Synonyms
  • Nivenia R.Br.

Paranomus is a genus of 18 species of flowering plants, commonly known as "sceptres", in the protea family. It is endemic to the Cape Floristic Region of South Africa.

Distribution and habitat[]

The species occur mainly in mountainous areas of the Western and Eastern Cape provinces from the Cederberg to Uitenhage, with the highest numbers found in the districts of Caledon, Worcester and Swellendam. They are often associated with fynbos habitats.[1]

Etymology[]

The genus was named by English botanist Richard Anthony Salisbury from its unusual leaves, from the Greek para ("illegal" or "contrary"),[citation needed] and nomos ("custom" or "law"). It was subsequently renamed Nivenia by rival botanist Robert Brown to honour plant collector James Niven, but Salisbury's name has priority. They are commonly known as “sceptres” or “sceptre plants” for the shape of their inflorescences and after the first of the genus to be described, P. sceptrum-gustavianus – “King Gustav's sceptre”, in 1777.[1]

Description[]

All species are shrubs, though some can grow quite large; for example P. tomentosus may become, at up to 3 m high, a small tree. Like the closely related serrurias they have divided leaves, though a distinctive feature of the genus is that individual plants of some species can bear both normal leaves and ones that are only minimally or even undivided. Other strange features of the leaves are that they do not have distinct upper and lower surfaces and their venation is primitive. The flowerheads are spike-like inflorescences in which the flowers are grouped into fours, with each group of four carried beneath a leathery bract. The shell-like bracts remain on the plant for a year or longer, well after the seeds have dropped off.[1] The plants are not serotinous. They do not resprout after fires but regenerate from seeds which are shed soon after flowering.[2]

Species[]

Described species include:[3][4]

  • Paranomus abrotanifolius Salisb. ex Knight – Bredasdorp sceptre
  • Salisb. ex Knight – Hairy-style sceptre
  • (Gand.) Levyns – Overberg or Viking sceptre
  • Salisb. ex Knight – Smooth-leaf tree sceptre
  • Kuntze – Powder sceptre
  • Kuntze – Fine-leaf sceptre
  • Levyns – Ladismith sceptre
  • Levyns – Long-head sceptre
  • Kuntze – Scented sceptre
  • Levyns – Kouga sceptre
  • Salisb. – Rabbit-paw sceptre
  • Salisb. Ex Knight – Woolly sceptre or exploding baked apple
  • N.E. Br. – Van Staden's sceptre
  • (Compton) Levyns – Honey-scented sceptre
  • Hyl. – King Gustav's sceptre
  • Kuntze – Langeberg sceptre
  • Kuntze – Kogelberg sceptre
  • N.E. Br. – Hairy-leaf sceptre

References[]

  1. ^ Jump up to: a b c Notten, Alice (2010). "Paranomus". PlantZAfrica. South African National Biodiversity Institute. Retrieved 2013-05-18.
  2. ^ Paterson-Jones, Colin (2007). Protea. Struik. pp. 46–47. ISBN 9781770075245.
  3. ^ "Paranomus". The Plant List. 2010. Retrieved 2013-05-18.
  4. ^ "Paranomus Salisb. 1807". Protea Atlas Project. South African National Biodiversity Institute. Retrieved 2013-05-22.[permanent dead link]
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