these populations occur on the Klein Swartberg Mountains rising above the Karoo just to the north of the village of Ladismith. Ecology Habitat The plant only grows in a single specific type of habitat, called 'Swartberg altimontane sandstone fynbos'. It grows on the snow-clad ridges and the summits of mountains, where it is usually found growing on the occasional level areas, among rocks, at altitudes of 1,800 to 2,100 or 2,150 metres (in the original 1977 description). This is an area of Africa that regularly experiences snowfall, blizzards and harsh gales, where the topsoil is frozen from July to October, and where the ancient, infertile ground has had its nutrients leached and eroded out. It grows in quite deep soils which were derived from Table Mountain Sandstone. Lightning often strikes the mountains, and these strikes often cause wildfires. Wildfires usually occur every ten years or so in this region, although the plants are expected to require a longer period to reach a reproductive age. Although the plants are killed when fires pass through their land, the old flower heads remain intact and well-preserved for five to eight years afterward; the fires expose them when the leaves are immolated, and these large, charred discs are found between the clefts in the rocks of the montane landscape. Life cycle The wildfires which periodically burn through the natural habitat of this species destroy the adult plants, but the seeds are able to survive such an event. Death after fires is quite comprehensive: of 239 plants investigated after being caught in a wildfire, only one survived; even the plants which were only lightly singed and initially attempted to re-sprout soon died. However, because their habitat is so rocky and inhospitable, fires are commonly unable to completely destroy all the plants in a particular population, typically 2-27% of the population survives. Despite this, the species germinates best on those spots where fires have reduced the competing vegetation to ash lying on the bare ground, as opposed to more rocky places where it might be protected. It blooms in the summer, from January to February. Rodents pollinate the flowers, and are attracted to the yeasty scent of the flowers. Acomys subspinosus, Aethomys namaquensis, Myomyscus verreauxii, Rhabdomys pumilio and Elephantulus edwardii have often been caught around rodent-pollinated proteas, and all foraged upon the flower heads in a laboratory setting. E. edwardii, which is in fact not a