Ceratocaryum argenteum
{{Short description|Species of plant}}
{{Speciesbox
|name = Silver arrowreed
|image = Ceratocaryum argenteum (Western Cape, South Africa) 1.jpg
|image_caption =
|status =
|status_system =
|genus = Ceratocaryum
|species = argenteum
|authority = Nees ex Kunth
|range_map = Locator map of South Africa in Africa.svg
|range_map_caption = Distribution of Ceratocaryum argenteum
|synonyms =
- Ceratocaryum speciosum Nees ex Mast.
- Restio argenteus Nees
}}
Ceratocaryum argenteum, commonly known as silver arrowreed, is a species of plant in the Restionaceae family and is native to the Cape Provinces of South Africa.{{cite POWO |id=715769-1 |title=Ceratocaryum argenteum Nees ex Kunth |accessdate=5 July 2022}}
Description
The caespitose plants are {{convert|2-3|m|inches}} tall and grow in coastal sands at elevations of {{convert|50-200|m|feet}} above sea level. They flower throughout April and May. The plants release their tuberculate nut fruits in January.Linder, H. P. (2001). [https://www.jstor.org/stable/pdf/4110968.pdf "Two new species of Ceratocaryum (Restionaceae)."] Kew Bulletin, 465-477.
Ecology
Ceratocaryum argenteum has an unusual seed dispersal strategy. It employs chemical compounds to deceive dung beetles, which treat the seeds as if they were true animal fecal matter. The beetles bury the seeds.Midgley, J. J., White, J. D., Johnson, S. D., & Bronner, G. N. (2015). [https://www.researchgate.net/profile/Gary-Bronner/publication/282618768_Faecal_mimicry_by_seeds_ensures_dispersal_by_dung_beetles/links/569a066408ae6169e5532ca2/Faecal-mimicry-by-seeds-ensures-dispersal-by-dung-beetles.pdf "Faecal mimicry by seeds ensures dispersal by dung beetles."] Nature Plants, 1(10), 1-3. This strategy of faecal mimicry is shared with another species, namely Ceratocaryum pulchrum.Midgley, J. J., White, J. D. M., Scholtz, C. H., & Johnson, S. D. (2021). [https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0254629920311546 "Seed dispersal by dung beetles in Ceratocaryum pulchrum (Restionaceae): Another example of faecal mimicry in plants."] South African Journal of Botany, 137, 365-368. The seeds are not consumed or gathered by rodents.Midgley, J. J., White, J. D., & Bronner, G. N. (2017). [https://bioone.org/journals/african-zoology/volume-52/issue-1/15627020.2017.1292861/Camera-Trapping-and-Seed-Labelling-Reveals-Widespread-Granivory-and-Scatter/10.1080/15627020.2017.1292861.pdf "Camera-trapping and seed-labelling reveals widespread granivory and scatter-hoarding of nuts by rodents in the Fynbos Biome."] African Zoology, 52(1), 31-41.
Their strategy of adaption to wildfires is to re-grow from seeds after such fires occur.
File:Ceratocaryum argenteum (Gouriqua, South Africa) 4.jpg|Ceratocaryum argenteum. The seeds resemble dung balls in great detail and deceive dung beetles. This is called mimicry.
File:Ceratocaryum argenteum (Western Cape, South Africa) 4.jpg|Seed
File:Plum dung beetle (Anachalcos convexus) 1 of 4.jpg|Dung beetle moving a ball of dung. In the same way, the beetles disperse and bury the seeds, ensuring ideal germination conditions of the plants.
Distribution
This species is native to the southwestern Cape Provinces of South Africa, from Albertinia to Paarl.
Taxonomy
References
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