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Scientific Name | Leucadendron radiatum E.Phillips & Hutch. |
Higher Classification | Dicotyledons |
Family | PROTEACEAE |
Common Names | Langeberg Conebush (e) |
National Status |
Status and Criteria | Endangered B1ab(iii,v)+2ab(iii,v) |
Assessment Date | 2019/08/13 |
Assessor(s) | A.G. Rebelo & H. Mtshali |
Justification | Leucadendron radiatum is restricted to high altitude slopes of the Langeberg Mountains in South Africa. It has an extent of occurrence (EOO) of 243 km², and an area of occupancy (AOO) of 68 km². The number of mature individuals continue to decline at five known locations due to too frequent fire. Recruitment failures have been observed in small, localized subpopulations. This is a slow-maturing species, requiring many years to first seed set. It qualifies for listing as Endangered under criterion B. |
Distribution |
Endemism | South African endemic |
Provincial distribution | Western Cape |
Range | This is known from the Langeberg Mountains between Swellendam and Riversdale, in the Western Cape Province, South Africa. |
Habitat and Ecology |
Major system | Terrestrial |
Major habitats | South Langeberg Sandstone Fynbos |
Description | It occurs in south-facing slopes near mountain summits. 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 |
| Too frequent fires are affecting the recruitment of some subpopulations. Large skeletons from previous fires have been observed with few or no young seedlings visible. It appears to mature slowly and takes many years to set seed. |
Population |
Known from six subpopulations that are naturally fragmented and localized. One subpopulation from the Kampscheberg has gone extinct. The largest subpopulations occurring at Paardeberg has over 20 000 mature individuals and extended over 2 kms when it was last monitored in 2003. There has been observed decline at certain subpopulations but the causes of decline are unknown but suspected to be linked to incorrect fire return intervals.
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Population trend | Decreasing |
Assessment History |
Taxon assessed |
Status and Criteria |
Citation/Red List version | | Leucadendron radiatum E.Phillips & Hutch. | EN B1ab(i,ii,iii,iv,v)c(iv)+2ab(i,ii,iii,iv,v)c(iv) | Raimondo et al. (2009) | | Leucadendron radiatum E.Phillips & Hutch. | Rare | Hilton-Taylor (1996) | | Leucadendron radiatum E.Phillips & Hutch. | 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.
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. 2019. Leucadendron radiatum E.Phillips & Hutch. National Assessment: Red List of South African Plants version . Accessed on 2025/05/21 |
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