Protea afra Meisn.
subsp. gazensis (Beard) Chisumpa & Brummitt

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Protea afra subsp. gazensis

Photo: Stefaan Dondeyne
Along edge of western butress, Tsetsera plateau

Protea afra subsp. gazensis

Photo: Stefaan Dondeyne
Along edge of western butress, Tsetsera plateau

Protea afra subsp. gazensis

Photo: Stefaan Dondeyne
Along edge of western butress, Tsetsera plateau

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Species details: Click on each item to see an explanation of that item (Note: opens a new window)

Synonyms: Protea gazensis Beard
Common names: Manica protea (English)
Frequency: Locally frequent
Status: Native
Description:
Shrub or small tree. The leaves are bluish-green, hairless, narrowly oblong or elliptic. Young leaves are bright red. Flower heads up to 15 cm in diameter; outer bracts usually brownish, inner bracts pink to red.
Type location:
Notes:
Derivation of specific name: afra : African;
gazensis: of Gaza, historic name for the eastern part of Southern Africa, now a province in Mozambique.
Habitat: In wooded grassland on hillsides and in valleys.
Altitude range: (metres) 1500 - 2100 m
Flowering time:Nov - Mar
Worldwide distribution: This subspecies is confined to the border mountains of Zimbabwe and Mozambique, including Mt Gorongosa. Subsp. caffra occurs in southern Mozambique and South Africa.
FZ divisions: MS
Growth form(s): Tree.
Endemic status: Near Endemic
Red data list status:
Insects associated with this species:
Spot characters: Display spot characters for this species
Images last updated: Saturday 28 July 2012
Literature:

Beard, J.S. (1963). The genus Protea in Tropical Africa Kirkia 3 Pages 182 - 183. as Protea gazensis (Includes a picture).

Burrows, J.E., Burrows, S.M., Lötter, M.C. & Schmidt, E. (2018). Trees and Shrubs Mozambique Publishing Print Matters (Pty), Cape Town. Page 102. (Includes a picture).

Chapano, C. & Mamuto, M. (2003). Plants of the Chimanimani District National Herbarium and Botanic Garden, Zimbabwe Page 45.

Chisumpa, S.M., Brummitt, R.K. & Marner, S. (2006). Proteaceae Flora Zambesiaca 9(3) Pages 68 - 69.

Coates Palgrave, K. (revised and updated by Meg Coates Palgrave) (2002). Trees of Southern Africa 3rd edition. Struik, South Africa Page 167.

Darbyshire, I., Timberlake, J., Osborne, J., Rokni, S., Matimele, H., Langa. C., Datizua, C., de Sousa, C., Alves, T., Massingue, A., Hadj-Hammou, J., Dhanda, S., Shah, T., Wursten, B. (2019). The endemic plants of Mozambique: diversity and conservation status Phytotaxa 136 Page 92.

Drummond, R.B. (1975). A list of trees, shrubs and woody climbers indigenous or naturalised in Rhodesia. Kirkia 10(1) Page 235. As Protea gazensis

Mapaura, A. & Timberlake, J. (eds) (2004). A checklist of Zimbabwean vascular plants Southern African Botanical Diversity Network Report No. 33 Sabonet, Pretoria and Harare Page 69.

Plowes, D.C.H. & Drummond, R.B. (1990). Wild Flowers of Zimbabwe. Revised edition. Longman, Zimbabwe. No. 38, plate 59

Wursten, B., Timberlake, J. & Darbyshire, I. (2017). The Chimanimani Mountains: an updated checklist. Kirkia 19(1) Page 97.


Other sources of information about Protea afra subsp. gazensis:

Our websites:

Flora of Zimbabwe: Protea afra subsp. gazensis

External websites:

African Plants: A Photo Guide (Senckenberg): Protea afra
African Plant Database: Protea afra
BHL (Biodiversity Heritage Library): Protea afra
EOL (Encyclopedia of Life): Protea afra
GBIF (Global Biodiversity Information Facility): Protea afra
Google: Web - Images - Scholar
iNaturalist: Protea afra
IPNI (International Plant Names Index): Protea afra
JSTOR Plant Science: Protea afra
Mansfeld World Database of Agricultural and Horticultural Crops: Protea afra
Plants of the World Online: Protea afra
Tropicos: Protea afra
Wikipedia: Protea afra


Copyright: Mark Hyde, Bart Wursten, Petra Ballings and Meg Coates Palgrave, 2007-25

Hyde, M.A., Wursten, B.T., Ballings, P. & Coates Palgrave, M. (2025). Flora of Mozambique: Species information: Protea afra subsp. gazensis.
https://www.mozambiqueflora.com/speciesdata/species.php?species_id=120750, retrieved 17 September 2025

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