Cape edelweiss, lambtails, or horse snow are all common names for Lanaria lanata. This is a species of “onlys”: it is the only species in its genus, which is the only genus in its family. It is also only found in South Africa, where it is restricted to the Western Cape and Eastern Cape provinces.
Lanaria lanata is associated with the highly-biodiverse fynbos, or the shrublands / heathlands of South Africa. Fires are a natural component of this Mediterranean-type ecosystem. Indeed, Cape edelweiss flowers best in the years immediately following a fire, similar to many other fire-adapted monocots. Perhaps someone who has seen the plant in the wild can comment as to whether or not the flowering stems wiggle in the wind like a lamb’s tail?
Additional photographs are available via African Plants: A Photo Guide.
Botany resource link: On the topic of ecosystems with fire regimes, Hakai Magazine recently published an article on Coastal Oakscapes. Richly photographed, it introduces some of the people and plants involved with British Columbia’s Garry oak ecosystems (or Oregon white oak ecosystems, for readers further south).
Good morning Daniel On first glance at todays plant my only thought was that it should be called Marilyn Munroe.
I can see that!
So cool! Thanks so much for including both the close-up (adorable!) as well as the growing plants and patterns. Wish you could do that more often as the close-up may not give a clue to what the plant/tree actually looks like.
A first glance at the close-up made me think — it’s a rabbit-in-bloom !
From Kermit scrunch face previously to cat/kitten face (bottom of close up) today!
Perry Kneedler
So grateful to see a glimpse of another part of the world with such variety and surprise each time there is a new photo. You, Daniel, and UBC enrich our lives.
Thank you for the link to the article on oakscapes! Always so much to learn and appreciate in your posts!!