Diastella

Life-forms

Classification System: APG IV

Superregnum: Eukaryota
Regnum: Plantae
Cladus: Angiosperms
Cladus: Eudicots
Ordo: Proteales

Familia: Proteaceae
Subfamilia: Proteoideae
Tribus: Proteeae
Genus: Diastella
Species: D. buekii – D. divaricata – D. fraterna – D. humifusa – D. myrtifolia – D. parilis – D. proteoides – D. serpyllifolia – D. thymelaeoides
Source(s) of checklist:

Govaerts, R. et al. 2021. Diastella in Kew Science Plants of the World online. The Board of Trustees of the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew. Published on the internet. Accessed: 2021 Jan 16. Reference page.

Name

Diastella Salisb. ex J. Knight On Cultivation Proteeae 61. (1809)

Type species: Diastella thymelaeoides subsp. thymelaeoides Rourke J. S. African Bot. 42(3): 199. (1976) Designated as synonym Diastella bryiflora Salisb. ex Knight (1809)

References

Rourke, J.P. 1976. A Revision of Diastella (Proteaceae). Journal of South African Botany 42(3): 185-210. Internet Archive Reference page.
International Plant Names Index. 2015. Diastella. Published online. Accessed: Mar. 21 2015.
Tropicos.org 2015. Diastella. Missouri Botanical Garden. Published on the internet. Accessed: 2015 mar. 21.

Diastella is a genus containing seven species of flowering plants, commonly known as “silkypuffs”, in the protea family. The name comes from the Greek diastellein “to separate”, with reference to the free perianth lobes – the plants are distinguished from the closely related and similar leucospermums by the possession of four free perianth segments. The genus is endemic to the Cape Floristic Region of South Africa where it has a very limited range and is associated with fynbos habitats. The species are all small shrubs.[1] Most species are threatened.[2]
Species

Described species and subspecies are listed below, with their conservation status:[2][3]

• Diastella buekii (Gand.) Rourke – Franschhoek silkypuff – CR
• Diastella divaricata (P.J.Bergius) Rourke
  • Diastella divaricata subsp. divaricata – Peninsula silkypuff – Rare
  • Diastella divaricata subsp. montana Rourke – Mountain silkypuff – VU
• Diastella fraterna Rourke – Palmiet silkypuff – Rare
• Diastella myrtifolia (Thunb.) Salisb. ex Knight – Tulbagh silkypuff – CR
• Diastella parilis Salisb. ex Knight – Worcester silkypuff – CR
• Diastella proteoides (L.) Druce – Flats silkypuff – CR
• Diastella thymelaeoides (P.J.Bergius) Rourke
  • Diastella thymelaeoides subsp. thymelaeoides – Steenbras silkypuff – NT
  • Diastella thymelaeoides subsp. meridiana Rourke – Hangklip Silkypuff – VU

References

Ebrahim, Ismail (2009). "Diastella buekii". PlantZAfrica. South African National Biodiversity Institute. Retrieved 2013-05-21.
"Diastella". Red List of South African Plants. South African National Biodiversity Institute. Retrieved 2013-05-21.
"Diastella Salisb. Ex Knight 1809". Protea Atlas Project. South African National Biodiversity Institute. Retrieved 2013-05-21.[permanent dead link]