About Ceratocaryum argenteum Nees ex Kunth
Ceratocaryum argenteum Nees ex Kunth is a caespitose species that reaches 2 to 3 meters (79 to 118 inches) in height. It grows in coastal sands at elevations of 50 to 200 meters (160 to 660 feet) above sea level. It flowers in April and May, and releases its tuberculate nut fruits in January. This species is native to the southwestern Cape Provinces of South Africa, occurring from Albertinia to Paarl. It has an unusual seed dispersal strategy: it uses chemical compounds to deceive dung beetles, which treat its seeds as actual animal fecal matter and bury them. This faecal mimicry dispersal strategy is also used by the related species Ceratocaryum pulchrum. Rodents do not consume or gather the seeds of Ceratocaryum argenteum. To adapt to wildfires, this species re-grows from seeds after fires occur.
