Leucadendron platyspermum

Leucadendron platyspermum, commonly the plate-seed conebush and in Afrikaans the kraaltolbos (kraal or pen top bush), is a single-stemmed shrub reaching heights to about 1,7 m, the species a reseeder. The male plant is a little shorter than the female, around 1,3 m and its leaves a little smaller (4 cm long compared to 7 cm).

The leaves are narrowly oblong to oblanceolate, the young leaves narrower. The leaves are stalkless or sessile, their tips blunt and cartilaginous. The brightly yellow-green blades are smooth and leathery, the yellowness variable.

The species distribution is in the southwest of the Western Cape from Villiersdorp to east of Bredasdorp.

The habitat is fynbos on sandstone slopes where the plants may form dense stands. The species is considered vulnerable in its habitat early in the twenty first century, due to its extensive use in the cut-flower business, invasion by alien vegetation and too frequent veld fires (Mustart, et al, 1997; Bond and Goldblatt, 1984; iNaturalist; JSTOR; Wikipedia; http://redlist.sanbi.org).