Aulax umbellata

Aulax umbellata, commonly known as the broadleaved featherbush, is a single-stemmed, sparsely branched shrub reaching heights around 2,5 m.

The simple leaves are linear to oblanceolate. leaf dimensions are from 2 cm to 11 cm long and from 2 mm to 15 mm wide. Some of the stem-top leaves around the flowers turn brownish purple during the blooming season.  

These female flowerheads grow on a female plant, the species dioecious. A plant bearing male or pollen flowers is usually not far away in the veld. Bloomtime is from end spring and throughout summer.

The species distribution is in the south of the Western Cape, from the Kogelberg to around Riversdale and Still Bay. The photo was taken by a roadside west of Kleinmond during March. 

The habitat is coastal fynbos flats and slopes. The habitat population is deemed of least concern early in the twenty first century (Manning, 2007; Rebelo, 1995; iNaturalist; www.plantzafrica.com; http://redlist.sanbi.org).