Liparia splendens subsp. splendens

These nodding flowerheads of Liparia splendens subsp. splendens become up to 4 cm long. Its inflorescences are slightly smaller in bracts, calyces and overall size than those of the other subspecies. 

The subspecies distribution is only in parts of the Cape Peninsula and the Cape Flats. The photo was taken at the Silvermine Nature Reserve near Cape Town.

The habitat is fynbos on sandstone flats and rocky mountain slopes, often on cooler, southern slopes. The habitat population is deemed vulnerable in its small range early in the twenty first century, due to urban expansion, agriculture, invading exotic vegetation and too frequent fynbos fires (iNaturalist; www.plantzafrica.com; http://redlist.sanbi.org).