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Scientific Name | Serruria hirsuta R.Br. |
Higher Classification | Dicotyledons |
Family | PROTEACEAE |
Common Names | Spinnekopbossie (a), Swartkops Spiderhead (e) |
National Status |
Status and Criteria | Vulnerable D2 |
Assessment Date | 2020/06/19 |
Assessor(s) | A.G. Rebelo, N.A. Helme & D. Raimondo |
Justification | Serruria hirsuta is a restricted endemic confined to one ridge above Simon's Town on the Cape Peninsula in South Africa. There is only one subpopulation of this species which has over 3000 plants and is stable as it occurs within the Table Mountain National Park. This species occurs at low altitude and faces the potential threat of losing habitat to the construction of fire belts to protect the urban edge. Furthermore, there is ongoing pressure from the spread of invasive alien plants, however clearing efforts take place at regular intervals. Habitat degradation from invasive species however remains a future potential threat. It therefore qualifies for listing as Vulnerable under criterion D. |
Distribution |
Endemism | South African endemic |
Provincial distribution | Western Cape |
Range | This species is known from the Cape Peninsula, in the Western Cape Province of South Africa. |
Habitat and Ecology |
Major system | Terrestrial |
Major habitats | Peninsula Sandstone Fynbos |
Description | It occurs in sandstone fynbos, at altitudes of between 360 and 470 m.a.s.l. 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 germinate following fire. It is pollinated by insects. |
Threats |
| Its lower altitudinal areas face the potential threat of being brush cut for fire breaks to protect the urban edge of Simon's Town. It also faces potential threat of habitat degradation from the spread of invasive alien plant species, however the South African National Parks Agency (SANParks) does clear this area regularly of invasive species. |
Population |
Known from only one subpopulation that has been stable with over 3000 plants, for the past 30 years. It occurs mostly in the Table Mountain National Park, and is currently well protected.
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Population trend | Stable |
Conservation |
| Although mostly in the Table Mountain National Park, almost half of the locality would be exterminated if a 100-m wide fire belt were to be constructed to protect houses on the edge. |
Assessment History |
Taxon assessed |
Status and Criteria |
Citation/Red List version | | Serruria hirsuta R.Br. | CR B1ab(iii)c(iv)+2ab(i,iii)c(iv) | Raimondo et al. (2009) | | Serruria hirsuta R.Br. | Rare | Hilton-Taylor (1996) | | Serruria hirsuta 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.
Helme, N.A. and Trinder-Smith, T.H. 2006. The endemic flora of the Cape Peninsula, South Africa. South African Journal of Botany 72(2):205-210.
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., Helme, N.A. & Raimondo, D. 2020. Serruria hirsuta R.Br. National Assessment: Red List of South African Plants version . Accessed on 2024/12/06 |
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