Orothamnus zeyheri is an extremely rare plant. An erect shrub, reaching a size of 6-8 m in height, the leaves are slightly convex, obovoid or obligato-scapular, with a dull blackish apex, gradually decreasing at the base with clear 5-6 veins. Sessile inflorescences with a variety of flowers with a pink-red bract . Fruits are oblong, smooth and bright [2] .
The plant is short-lived, the average life of the plant is 10 years, the maximum is 20 years. On the other hand, the seeds are safe to preserve viability under the ground up to 35 years, where they are brought by local ants and germinate after summer fires. Pollination method unknown. Seeds germinating at other times suffer from low germination and are destroyed by Otomys saundersiae rats. If the soil around the plant is damaged, the plant may be implanted with Phytophthora fungus, causing the plant to die. Grafting on the rhizome of Leucospermum does not allow the fungus to develop, which can save the species from extinction.
It was first described in 1848 by South African Cape artist and biological specimen Jean Ville in Curtis's Botanical Magazine.
The generic name is Orothamnus (from the Greek 'oros' mountain, 'thamnos' bush). The specific name was given in honor of the German and South African botanist Karl Zeiger .
