Leucadendron salignum

Leucadendron salignum is a multi-stemmed shrub that often grows to 1 m, occasionally to 2 m. The plant resprouts after fire. The specific name, salignum, is derived from the Latin word, salix, the name of the willow tree, referring to the leaf likeness between the two plants.

In the days when the species comprised some recognised varieties, L. salignum var. longifolium was listed among the local trees (SA Tree List No. 81).

The leaves are narrowly paddle-shaped, hairless and long; longer on the female shrubs and twisted near the base. The involucral leaves are reddish in the picture, more brightly coloured than the foliage leaves lower down on the stems. The female cones are reddish towards the tips, pale lower down, and will remain tightly closed until opened by fire.

The species distribution covers much of the Western Cape, the southwestern coastal part of the Eastern Cape and a little of the southwest of the Northern Cape.

The habitat is sandy and clayey fynbos and renosterveld slopes. The plants are found from sea level to elevations around 2000 m where some experience winter snow. The species is not considered to be threatened in its habitat early in the twenty first century, although much of its low-lying natural area is destroyed by human activity (Manning, 2007; Andrew, 2017; www.fynboshub.co.za; www.plantzafrica.com; http://redlist.sanbi.org).