''Lanaria'' is a

monotypic In biology, a monotypic taxon is a taxonomic group (taxon) that contains only one immediately subordinate taxon. A monotypic species is one that does not include subspecies or smaller, infraspecific taxa. In the case of genera, the term "unispe ...

genus Genus ( plural genera ) is a taxonomic rank used in the biological classification of living and fossil organisms as well as viruses. In the hierarchy of biological classification, genus comes above species and below family. In binomial nom ...

flowering plant Flowering plants are plants that bear flowers and fruits, and form the clade Angiospermae (), commonly called angiosperms. The term "angiosperm" is derived from the Greek words ('container, vessel') and ('seed'), and refers to those plants th ...

s containing a single species, ''Lanaria lanata'', endemic to the southern coast of South Africa where it is associated with the fynbos belt. ''Lanaria lanata'' is commonly known as Cape edelweiss or lambtails. The genus is placed in the monotypic

family Family (from la, familia) is a group of people related either by consanguinity (by recognized birth) or affinity (by marriage or other relationship). The purpose of the family is to maintain the well-being of its members and of society. Idea ...

Lanariaceae, a family only recently recognized by taxonomists. The

APG IV system The APG IV system of flowering plant classification is the fourth version of a modern, mostly molecular-based, system of plant taxonomy for flowering plants (angiosperms) being developed by the Angiosperm Phylogeny Group (APG). It was published ...

of 2016 (unchanged from the

1998 1998 was designated as the ''International Year of the Ocean''. Events January * January 6 – The ''Lunar Prospector'' spacecraft is launched into orbit around the Moon, and later finds evidence for frozen water, in soil in permanently s ...

, the 2003 and 2009 versions) does recognize this family. This species occurs on clay and sandstone soils throughout its distribution range. The stiff, ribbed leaves arise from a woody rootstock and are evergreen, channelled, and finely serrate along the margins. The densely woolly, white heads enclose mauve flowers and are peculiar to the species. Flowering is profuse following fires.

Etymology

Both 'lanaria' and 'lanata' are derived from 'lana', Latin for 'wool'.

References

External links

photographs of lambtails
{{Taxonbar, from1=Q15712353, from2=Q13777503, from3=Q131624 Monotypic Asparagales genera Flora of Southern Africa Asparagales