Ceratocaryum argenteum

Silver arrowreed
Scientific classification
Kingdom:	Plantae
Clade:	Tracheophytes
Clade:	Angiosperms
Clade:	Monocots
Clade:	Commelinids
Order:	Poales
Family:	Restionaceae
Genus:	Ceratocaryum
Species:	C. argenteum
Binomial name
	Ceratocaryum argenteum; Nees ex Kunth
	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.^[1]

Description

The caespitose plants are 2–3 metres (79–118 in) tall and grow in coastal sands at elevations of 50–200 metres (160–660 ft) above sea level. They flower throughout April and May. The plants release their tuberculate nut fruits in January.^[2]^[3]

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.^[4] This strategy of faecal mimicry is shared with another species, namely Ceratocaryum pulchrum.^[2] The seeds are not consumed or gathered by rodents.^[5] Their strategy of adaption to wildfires is to re-grow from seeds after such fires occur.^[3]

Ceratocaryum argenteum. The seeds resemble dung balls in great detail and deceive dung beetles. This is called mimicry.
Seed
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.^[1]

Taxonomy

It is the sister species of Ceratocaryum pulchrum.^[2]

References

^ ^a ^b ^c "Ceratocaryum argenteum Nees ex Kunth". Plants of the World Online. Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew. Retrieved 5 July 2022.
^ ^a ^b ^c Midgley, J. J., White, J. D. M., Scholtz, C. H., & Johnson, S. D. (2021). "Seed dispersal by dung beetles in Ceratocaryum pulchrum (Restionaceae): Another example of faecal mimicry in plants." South African Journal of Botany, 137, 365-368.
^ ^a ^b Linder, H. P. (2001). "Two new species of Ceratocaryum (Restionaceae)." Kew Bulletin, 465-477.
^ Midgley, J. J., White, J. D., Johnson, S. D., & Bronner, G. N. (2015). "Faecal mimicry by seeds ensures dispersal by dung beetles." Nature Plants, 1(10), 1-3.
^ Midgley, J. J., White, J. D., & Bronner, G. N. (2017). "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.

Media related to Ceratocaryum argenteum at Wikimedia Commons

[POWO-1] "Ceratocaryum argenteum Nees ex Kunth". Plants of the World Online. Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew. Retrieved 5 July 2022.

[South_African_Journal_of_Botany-2] Midgley, J. J., White, J. D. M., Scholtz, C. H., & Johnson, S. D. (2021). "Seed dispersal by dung beetles in Ceratocaryum pulchrum (Restionaceae): Another example of faecal mimicry in plants." South African Journal of Botany, 137, 365-368.

[Kew_Bulletin-3] Linder, H. P. (2001). "Two new species of Ceratocaryum (Restionaceae)." Kew Bulletin, 465-477.

[4] Midgley, J. J., White, J. D., Johnson, S. D., & Bronner, G. N. (2015). "Faecal mimicry by seeds ensures dispersal by dung beetles." Nature Plants, 1(10), 1-3.

[5] Midgley, J. J., White, J. D., & Bronner, G. N. (2017). "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.

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