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.
Description The caespitose plants are tall and grow in coastal sands at elevations of above sea level. They flower throughout April and May. The plants release their tuberculate nut fruits in January.Linder, H. P. (2001). "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). "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). "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). "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.
Distribution This species is native to the southwestern Cape Provinces of South Africa, from Albertinia to Paarl.
Taxonomy It is the sister species of Ceratocaryum pulchrum.
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