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Scientific Name | Leucadendron sericeum (Thunb.) R.Br. |
Higher Classification | Dicotyledons |
Family | PROTEACEAE |
Common Names | Wabooms Conebush (e) |
National Status |
Status and Criteria | Endangered B1ab(ii,iii,v)+2ab(ii,iii,v) |
Assessment Date | 2020/07/07 |
Assessor(s) | A.G. Rebelo, D. Raimondo & N.A. Helme |
Justification | Leucadendron sericeum is a species restricted to the Koue Bokkeveld region of South Africa. It has an extent of occurrence (EOO) of 43 km², and an area of occupancy (AOO) of 40 km². The number of mature individuals at three threat based locations continue to decline due to ongoing habitat loss and degradation as a result of crop cultivation, too infrequent fire, wetland drainage, groundwater extraction and road construction. |
Distribution |
Endemism | South African endemic |
Provincial distribution | Western Cape |
Range | This species is endemic to Koue Bokkeveld and Waboomsrivier, in the Western Cape Province of South Africa. |
Habitat and Ecology |
Major system | Terrestrial |
Major habitats | Cederberg Sandstone Fynbos, Kouebokkeveld Alluvium Fynbos |
Description | It is largely confined to sandy bottomlands in Cederberg 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 recruit following fire. It is dioecious, with insect-pollinated male and female flowers occurring on separate plants. |
Threats |
| Habitat loss to crop cultivation has severely reduced this species' population in the past. Plants remain in a remnant of natural vegetation and are threatened by too infrequent fire, groundwater extraction and road construction. Repeated applications for further conversion of this species' habitat for cultivation have been turned down. Continued strict conservation measures are required to prevent the further loss to the population. |
Population |
A single subpopulation of a few thousand plants remain spread over three separate farms (Tandfontein, Waboomsrivier, and Roelofsberg). Each farm is considered a separate threat based location as loss to crop cultivation is the main pressure to this species.
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Population trend | Decreasing |
Conservation |
| The only known viable subpopulation of this species occurs on privately owned land and has no formal protection. |
Notes |
| This is a variant of a very variable species L. nitidum, but a particularly extreme form. While there is dissension as to its requiring specific status, it is universally agreed to be distinctive. |
Assessment History |
Taxon assessed |
Status and Criteria |
Citation/Red List version | | Leucadendron sericeum (Thunb.) R.Br. | CR B1ab(i,ii,iii,iv,v)c(iv) | Raimondo et al. (2009) | | Leucadendron sericeum (Thunb.) R.Br. | Endangered | Hilton-Taylor (1996) | | Leucadendron sericeum (Thunb.) R.Br. | Indeterminate | Hall et al. (1980) | |
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.
Hall, A.V., De Winter, M., De Winter, B. and Van Oosterhout, S.A.M. 1980. Threatened plants of southern Africa. South African National Scienctific Programmes Report 45. CSIR, Pretoria.
Hilton-Taylor, C. 1996. Red data list of southern African plants. Strelitzia 4. South African National Botanical 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.
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Citation |
| Rebelo, A.G., Raimondo, D. & Helme, N.A. 2020. Leucadendron sericeum (Thunb.) R.Br. National Assessment: Red List of South African Plants version . Accessed on 2024/12/06 |
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