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Scientific Name | Sorocephalus capitatus Rourke |
Higher Classification | Dicotyledons |
Family | PROTEACEAE |
Common Names | Woolly Clusterhead (e) |
National Status |
Status and Criteria | Vulnerable D2 |
Assessment Date | 2020/05/04 |
Assessor(s) | A.G. Rebelo, H. Mtshali & L. von Staden |
Justification | Sorocephalus capitatus is known from four locations, and is potentially threatened by drought-related mortality events and habitat loss to cultivation of fruit orchards and rooibos tea. It therefore qualifies for listing as Vulnerable under criterion D. |
Distribution |
Endemism | South African endemic |
Provincial distribution | Western Cape |
Range | This species has a limited distribution in the mountains of the Western Cape Province in South Africa, where it occurs on the Piketberg and at Onderboskloof in the Koue Bokkeveld. |
Habitat and Ecology |
Major system | Terrestrial |
Major habitats | Piketberg Sandstone Fynbos, Winterhoek Sandstone Fynbos |
Description | It grows in seeps on deep, sandy soil in sandstone fynbos. Mature individuals are killed by fires, and only seeds survive. Seeds are released after ripening, and dispersed by ants to their underground nests, where they are protected from predation and fire. It is pollinated by insects. |
Threats |
| At least 5% of the species' habitat was lost to agriculture in the past. The remaining species' habitat at Groot Winterhoek is within a formally protected area. There are no severe significant threats to the species at present, but it is likely to be threatened by drought-related mortality events and habitat loss to cultivation of fruit orchards and rooibos tea in Piketberg mountain. Dormant subpopulations are easily overlooked in vegetation surveys and Environmental Impact Assessments. |
Population |
This species occurs in small, discrete clumps. It is known from 24 subpopulations, with the majority of these being small. Only seven subpopulations are large with over 4000 mature individuals. The population is currently stable.
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Population trend | Stable |
Notes |
| The Piketberg form has lanceolate bracts and is quite distinct and isolated from the Onderbos form (Rourke 1969). However, the two forms have not been formally recognized. |
Assessment History |
Taxon assessed |
Status and Criteria |
Citation/Red List version | | Sorocephalus capitatus Rourke | NT D2 | Raimondo et al. (2009) | | Sorocephalus capitatus Rourke | Rare | Hilton-Taylor (1996) | |
Bibliography |
Goldblatt, P. and Manning, J.C. 2000. Cape Plants: A conspectus of the Cape Flora of South Africa. Strelitzia 9. National Botanical Institute, Cape Town.
Hilton-Taylor, C. 1996. Red data list of southern African plants. Strelitzia 4. South African National Botanical Institute, Pretoria.
Manning, J.C. and Goldblatt, P. 2012. Plants of the Greater Cape Floristic Region 1: The Core Cape Flora. Strelitzia 29. South African National Biodiversity Institute, Pretoria.
Raimondo, D., von Staden, L., Foden, W., Victor, J.E., Helme, N.A., Turner, R.C., Kamundi, D.A. and Manyama, P.A. 2009. Red List of South African Plants. Strelitzia 25. South African National Biodiversity Institute, Pretoria.
Rebelo, T. 2001. Sasol Proteas: A field guide to the proteas of southern Africa. (2nd ed.). Fernwood Press, Vlaeberg, Cape Town.
Rourke, J.P. 1969. Taxonomic studies on Sorocephalus R.Br. and Spatalla Salisb. Journal of South African Botany Supplement 7:1-124.
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Citation |
| Rebelo, A.G., Mtshali, H. & von Staden, L. 2020. Sorocephalus capitatus Rourke. National Assessment: Red List of South African Plants version . Accessed on 2024/12/07 |
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