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Scientific Name | Leucadendron sp. nov. (Acocks 23716 NBG) |
Higher Classification | Dicotyledons |
Family | PROTEACEAE |
National Status |
Status and Criteria | Endangered A4c |
Assessment Date | 2020/08/21 |
Assessor(s) | A.G. Rebelo, H. Mtshali & L. von Staden |
Justification | Leucadendron sp. nov. has a restricted distribution range with an extent of occurrence (EOO) of 674 km². Climate change models (Bomhard et al. 2005) predict a population reduction of more than 80% by 2025 (generation length 20 years). Observations of drought vulnerability suggest that this scenario is not unlikely: large-scale drought-related mortality was observed in 1999, with up to 60% mortality in some subpopulations where seepages dried up. There has been no monitoring of populations since the year 2000, however drought conditions have been severe between 2015 and 2020 and decline is expected to have occurred. As a precautionary approach this species is listed as Endangered under criterion A4 as a decline of between 50 and 80% is likely to occur in a shifting period of two generations into the past and one into the future. |
Distribution |
Endemism | South African endemic |
Provincial distribution | Western Cape |
Range | This species is endemic to Groot Winterhoek and Witteberg mountain ranges. |
Habitat and Ecology |
Major system | Terrestrial |
Major habitats | Matjiesfontein Quartzite Fynbos, Swartruggens Quartzite Fynbos |
Description | It prefers seepage areas in Matjiesfontein Quartzite Fynbos. |
Threats |
| A small proportion (4%) of this species' habitat has been irreversibly modified due to wheat cultivation, and loss continues at a very low rate (2% in 24 years). Subpopulations are naturally fragmented. Drought related mortality was observed in 1999, with up to 60% mortality in some subpopulations where seepages dried up. Ongoing monitoring is needed, particularly as droughts in the Western Cape increase pressure on groundwater resources, on which this seep-preferring species is dependent. It is likely to be threated by agriculture, alien invasive plants and droughts.
Climate change models (Bomhard et al. 2005) predicted a population reduction of over 80% by 2025 (generation length 20 years), as no monitoring of this species has taken place since 2000 it is unknown if it is declining. |
Population |
The population is suspected to be declining due to drought related mortality.
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Population trend | Decreasing |
Conservation |
| A few hundred plants in the Bontberg-Touwsrivier subpopulation are conserved on a narrow extension of the Kapklip Private Nature Reserve. |
Assessment History |
Taxon assessed |
Status and Criteria |
Citation/Red List version | | Leucadendron sp. nov. (Acocks 23716 NBG) | CR A4c | Raimondo et al. (2009) | |
Bibliography |
Bomhard, B., Richardson, D.M., Donaldson, J.S., Hughes, G.O., Midgley, G.F., Raimondo, D.C., Rebelo, A.G., Rouget, M. and Thuiller, W. 2005. Potential impacts of future land use and climate change on the Red List status of the Proteaceae in the Cape Floristic Region, South Africa. Global Change Biology 11(9):1452-1468.
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. 1997. Does Se flava resprout? Protea Atlas Newsletter 34:7.
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Citation |
| Rebelo, A.G., Mtshali, H. & von Staden, L. 2020. Leucadendron sp. nov. (Acocks 23716 NBG). National Assessment: Red List of South African Plants version . Accessed on 2024/12/06 |
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