Elegia grandispicata

Described as "a restio with large golden inflorescences that seem to glow in the early morning light" by Louise Nurrish of Kirstenbosch, author of this week's Plant of the Week, Elegia grandispicata hails from the Cedarberg across to the Langeberg Mountains in the Western Cape.
  Apparently the name Elegia is derived from the Greek word elegeia which means "song of lamentation". It is thought that this refers to the sound restios make while they are moving in the breeze.
  The specific name is split into two parts: grandis meaning large and spicatus meaning with spikelets. (Louise says she thinks the spikelets are very small but possibly they were referring to the large flowering inflorescences of both the male and female plants.)

Know, grow and protect South Africa's indigenous flora: visit the Plant of the Week on PlantZafrica or search for it under E.

Buy the book Restios of the Fynbos by Els Dorrat-Haaksma and H. Peter Linder from the BotSoc Bookshop at Kirstenbosch and support our indigenous flora.