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Scientific Name | Leucadendron stelligerum I.Williams |
Higher Classification | Dicotyledons |
Family | PROTEACEAE |
Common Names | Agulhas Conebush (e) |
National Status |
Status and Criteria | Endangered A2c |
Assessment Date | 2020/06/17 |
Assessor(s) | A.G. Rebelo, H. Mtshali, L. von Staden, N.A. Helme & R. Koopman |
Justification | Leucadendron stelligerum has a restricted distribution range with an extent of occurrence (EOO) of 129-133 km² and an area of occupancy (AOO) of 116 km². It has declined significantly, mainly from crop cultivation across the Elim and Agulhas Plain. It continues to decline due to verge clearing practices such as herbicide spraying or mowing. A population reduction of over 50% over three generations is inferred from habitat loss over the past 45-60 years. It therefore meets the thresholds for Endangered under criterion A2. |
Distribution |
Endemism | South African endemic |
Provincial distribution | Western Cape |
Range | This species has a very limited distribution range in the south Western Cape Province of South Africa, where it occurs from Elim to Agulhas Plain. |
Habitat and Ecology |
Major system | Terrestrial |
Major habitats | Elim Ferricrete Fynbos |
Description | It is largely confined to Elim Ferricrete Fynbos on gravel and clay soils. Mature individuals are killed by fires, and only seeds survive. Wind-dispersed seeds are stored in fire-resistant inflorescences, and released after fires. It is dioecious, with insect-pollinated male and female flowers occurring on separate plants. |
Threats |
| More than 50% of this species habitat has been has been converted to crop fields (predominantly cereals, pasture, and vines), and road construction on the Elim Flats in the past. There is however ongoing degradation of Elim Ferricrete Fynbos remnants mainly due to severe overstocking with livestock, which leads to trampling and a loss of shrub cover. Most of these remnant are between crop fields and road verges, and are continuing to decline due to herbicide use and mowing of road verges. Also, these fragments are subjected to inappropriate fire management, either from too frequent fire to stimulate growth for grazing or too infrequent fires to protect crops.
Field observations indicate that alien invasive wattles and eucalypts are spreading at many remaining locations. Leucadendron stelligerum is also vulnerable to wild flower harvesting. |
Population |
This species is found over a 20 km range and is known from three subpopulations, occurring in dense isolated clumps. A population reduction of over 50% over three generations is inferred from habitat loss and degradation that has taken place in the past 45-60 years.
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Population trend | Decreasing |
Conservation |
| It is conserved in the Brandfontein-Rietfontein Private Nature Reserve. |
Notes |
| Intermediates with Leucadendron modestum occur in the eastern portion of the range where there is a marginal overlap in distributions. |
Assessment History |
Taxon assessed |
Status and Criteria |
Citation/Red List version | | Leucadendron stelligerum I.Williams | CR A3c+4c | Raimondo et al. (2009) | | Leucadendron stelligerum I.Williams | Endangered | Hilton-Taylor (1996) | | Leucadendron stelligerum I.Williams | Vulnerable | 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.
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.
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Citation |
| Rebelo, A.G., Mtshali, H., von Staden, L., Helme, N.A. & Koopman, R. 2020. Leucadendron stelligerum I.Williams. National Assessment: Red List of South African Plants version . Accessed on 2024/12/07 |
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