Stellenbosch University Botanical Garden, South Africa

Common name: Elimaardroos, Skaamgesiggie, Bashful sugarbush

Family: Proteaceae (Protea)

Distribution: Western Cape

Habitat: Elim Ferricrete Fynbos

National red list: Endangered

Life form: Shrub / sub-shrub

Comments: A highly range-restricted habitat specialist that only occurs east of Elim, a village on the Agulhas plain. It grows in Elim Ferricrete Fynbos, a relatively fertile fynbos vegetation type that is more favourable for agriculture than surrounding, more nutrient-poor fynbos soils. Due to this agricultural value, Elim Ferricrete Fynbos has faced extreme transformation and is now a critically endangered vegetation type. Along with this there have also been alien invasions and as such Protea pudens has lost most of its habitat, thus it is now considered an endangered species.