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Scientific Name | Serruria cyanoides (L.) R.Br. |
Higher Classification | Dicotyledons |
Family | PROTEACEAE |
Common Names | Wynberg Spiderhead (e) |
National Status |
Status and Criteria | Vulnerable A2c; B1ab(iii,iv,v)+2ab(iii,iv,v) |
Assessment Date | 2020/04/14 |
Assessor(s) | A.G. Rebelo, H. Mtshali & L. von Staden |
Justification | Serruria cyanoides has a very restricted distribution range, with an extent of occurrence (EOO) of 96 km², and an area of occupancy (AOO) of 60 km². It is known from nine locations and there is continuing decline due to ongoing habitat degradation. A population reduction of 28-38% has been estimated from the past rate of habitat loss, over a period of three generations (150-300 years) for this long-lived resprouter. It therefore qualifies for listing as Vulnerable under criteria A and B. |
Distribution |
Endemism | South African endemic |
Provincial distribution | Western Cape |
Range | It has a limited distribution and is restricted to the Cape Peninsula, in the Western Cape Province of South Africa. |
Habitat and Ecology |
Major system | Terrestrial |
Major habitats | Peninsula Sandstone Fynbos, Hangklip Sand Fynbos, Cape Flats Sand Fynbos |
Description | This species grows on sandy fynbos flats and hill slopes, at altitudes of 0 to 450 m. It is a long-lived species, and survives fires by resprouting from underground boles or rootstocks. 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 |
| Habitat loss to urban development and commercial timber plantations has reduced this species' population by 28-38% in the past three generations (150 years). There is no longer any significant expansion of plantations, and therefore it is not an ongoing threat. More concerning is the rapid spread of invasive escaped pine seedlings from timber plantations into native fynbos vegetation. When escaped pines mature and increase in density, they outcompete native species, leading to rapid declines.
Ongoing habitat loss and degradation due to trampling and grazing by livestock, and inappropriate management of abandoned land and large game has been observed during recent field surveys.
A potential threat to this species is invasive ant species that are displacing 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 further decline of the population if there is no soil-stored seed bank to regenerate from post fire. |
Population |
It occurs in isolated subpopulations with few to hundreds plants. There are six small (less than 20 plants), isolated subpopulations and three relatively large subpopulations. The larger subpopulations occur at Else's Peak (150-200 plats), Rooikrans (over 1000 plants), and Karbonkelberg (200-250 plants). A continuing decline is inferred from ongoing habitat loss to competition from alien invasive plants that continue to spread and increase in density within its habitat. While the total population is likely to be fewer than 2500 plants, none of the subcriteria under criterion C are met for this species.
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Population trend | Decreasing |
Conservation |
| The majority of subpopulations occur within the Table Mountain National Park. |
Assessment History |
Taxon assessed |
Status and Criteria |
Citation/Red List version | | Serruria cyanoides (L.) R.Br. | EN B1ab(i,ii,iii,iv,v)+2ab(i,ii,iii,iv,v) | Raimondo et al. (2009) | | Serruria cyanoides (L.) R.Br. | Vulnerable | Hilton-Taylor (1996) | | Serruria cyanoides (L.) R.Br. | Rare | 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. 2020. Serruria cyanoides (L.) R.Br. National Assessment: Red List of South African Plants version . Accessed on 2024/12/07 |
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