Protea laetans

Blyde River protea
habit and flower head
Scientific classification Edit this classification
Kingdom: Plantae
Clade: Tracheophytes
Clade: Angiosperms
Clade: Eudicots
Order: Proteales
Family: Proteaceae
Genus: Protea
Species:
P. laetans
Binomial name
Protea laetans
L.E.Davidson

Protea laetans, the Blyde River protea or Blyde sugarbush, is a species of flowering plant in the family Proteaceae. It was recognised as a species in 1970, and is endemic to the Blyde River Canyon of the Mpumalanga escarpment, South Africa.[2] The slender plants are up to 5m tall and flower from mid to late summer. The bracts of their closed flower heads are shiny and silvery in appearance.[2] They are most easily viewed near the F.H. Odendaal camp of the Blyde River Canyon Nature Reserve. Laetans means joyous, i.e. Blyde.

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References

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  1. ^ Rebelo, A.G.; Mtshali, H.; von Staden, L.; Lötter, M.C. (2020). "Protea laetans". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. 2020: e.T33931A185550218. doi:10.2305/IUCN.UK.2020-3.RLTS.T33931A185550218.en. Retrieved 15 November 2021.
  2. ^ a b Onderstall, Jo (1984). Transvaal lowveld and escarpment. South African wild flower guide. Vol. 4. Cape Town: Botanical Society of South Africa. p. 86. ISBN 0-620-07750-6.