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Scientific Name | Paranomus abrotanifolius Salisb. ex Knight |
Higher Classification | Dicotyledons |
Family | PROTEACEAE |
Synonyms | Nivenia micrantha Schltr., Paranomus micranthus (Schltr.) Compton |
Common Names | Bredasdorp Sceptre (e) |
National Status |
Status and Criteria | Near Threatened B1ab(iii,v)+2ab(iii,v) |
Assessment Date | 2020/05/12 |
Assessor(s) | A.G. Rebelo, H. Mtshali & L. von Staden |
Justification | Paranomus abrotanifolius has a restricted range, with an extent of occurrence (EOO) of 4206-4211 km², and an area of occupancy (AOO) of 308-312 km², and is known from more than 10 locations. The population is declining due to ongoing habitat loss and competition from alien invasive plants, and therefore it nearly meets the thresholds for Vulnerable under criterion B and is listed as Near Threatened. |
Distribution |
Endemism | South African endemic |
Provincial distribution | Western Cape |
Range | This species is endemic to the Western Cape, South Africa, where it is restricted to the Elim Flats and the Potberg. |
Habitat and Ecology |
Major system | Terrestrial |
Major habitats | Potberg Sandstone Fynbos, Overberg Sandstone Fynbos, Kogelberg Sandstone Fynbos, Potberg Ferricrete Fynbos, Elim Ferricrete Fynbos |
Description | This species grows in sandstone fynbos, or on clay and gravel flats. 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 |
| This species former area of occupancy has been reduced due to habitat loss to vineyards, protea orchards, and cereal fields. It has lost 33% of suitable habitat in the past, and a slow rate (2%) of ongoing habitat loss was recorded between 1990 and 2014. The remaining fynbos fragments between agricultural fields are heavily invaded by alien plant species, including acacias, hakeas and pines, that are outcompeting native species, and fragments are subjected to inappropriate fire management due to too infrequent fires to avoid risks of damaging crop fields.
Alien invasive ants are a potential threat to this species as they are likely to displace native ant species. Invasive ants do not perform the function of indigenous ants, which is to bury this species' seeds in their nests where they are protected from fire. Large scale ant invasions could lead to population collapse if there is no soil-stored seed bank to regenerate from post fire.
Climate change and habitat loss modelling predicted that this species could decline by at least 80% by 2025 (Bomhard et al. 2005), but such drastic population reductions have not yet been observed. |
Population |
This species occur in two regions separated by 49 kms, one on the Agulhas Plain and the other on the Potberg. It is known from 83 subpopulations, and many of these subpopulations are reduced to remnants of a just a few plants, particularly on the Agulhas Plains. Subpopulations occurring on silcretes and ferricretes have been especially decimated, whereas subpopulations on sandstone are relatively intact. It continues to decline due to ongoing habitat loss and degradation.
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Population trend | Decreasing |
Conservation |
| It is conserved at De Hoop and Heuningberg nature reserves, and Rietfontein-Brandfontein Private Nature Reserve. It is vulnerable to harvesting for the cut flower trade and as it has a highly sensitive life history harvesting is not allowed (Privett et al. 2005). |
Assessment History |
Taxon assessed |
Status and Criteria |
Citation/Red List version | | Paranomus abrotanifolius Salisb. ex Knight | VU A2c+3c+4c | Raimondo et al. (2009) | | Paranomus abrotanifolius Salisb. ex Knight | Vulnerable | Hilton-Taylor (1996) | |
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.
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.
Privett, S., Bailey, R., Raimondo, D., Kirkwood, D. and Euston-Brown, D. 2005. A vulnerability index for rare and harvested plant species on the Agulhas Plain. Flower Valley Conservation Trust.
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. 2020. Paranomus abrotanifolius Salisb. ex Knight. National Assessment: Red List of South African Plants version . Accessed on 2024/12/07 |
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