Vlakkenberg from Price Drive - Constantia

Meeting Point: Parking area at end of Price Drive off Constantia Main Rd.
Meeting Spot: Google Maps Location
Hiking Time: 2hrs 30min
Distance: 4.29km
Elevation: 353m
Grade: Moderate
🐶 Dog friendly
Route Notes: An easy to follow steep path that zig zags through the Silver Tree forest.
More info: Scaling VlakkenbergHiking Map: Vlakkenberg AllTrails Map or download GPX Route
The genus Protea, and the family Proteaceae, were originally named after the Silver Tree, by the Swedish Botanist Carl Linnaeus in 1753, as Protea argentea. The tree was later reclassified as Leucadendron argenteum.
The term Leucadendron originates from the Greek words leukos, meaning "white," and dendron, meaning "tree." The species name argenteum comes from Latin, signifying "silver," which refers to the tree's striking silver foliage.
Silver Trees are endangered and primarily found on cool, eastern, and southern slopes of Table Mountain, typically at elevations of 100-150 m.
The leaves' distinctive silver sheen results from thousands of fine hairs that cover them, helping to protect the plant from drying out and being eaten by herbivores.
This sheen’s intensity changes with temperature, being most vibrant in hot, dry conditions, when the hairs lie flat. During wet weather the hairs stand more erect allowing free circulation of air around the leaves and the leaves are relatively drab. (Refs: South African National Biodiversity Institute; Protea Atlas Project)
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