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Scientific Name | Leucadendron roodii E.Phillips |
Higher Classification | Dicotyledons |
Family | PROTEACEAE |
Synonyms | Leucadendron concinnum R.Br. var. latifolium Meisn. |
Common Names | Gifberg Conebush (e) |
National Status |
Status and Criteria | Endangered A2c |
Assessment Date | 2019/08/13 |
Assessor(s) | A.G. Rebelo, H. Mtshali & L. von Staden |
Justification | Leucadendron roodii is a restricted endemic to the arid north-western mountains of the Cape Floristic Region, it has an extent of occurrence (EOO) of 494 km², and an area of occupancy (AOO) of 148 km². The population is suspected to have declined by 50-70% in the past 60 years (generation length 20 years). Decline due to habitat loss to crop cultivation, inappropriate fire management and drought related mortality is ongoing, it therefore qualifies for listing as Endangered under criterion A. |
Distribution |
Endemism | South African endemic |
Provincial distribution | Western Cape |
Range | This species is found in the Gifberg Mountain, in the Western Cape Province of South Africa. |
Habitat and Ecology |
Major system | Terrestrial |
Major habitats | Nardouw Sandstone Fynbos, Bokkeveld Sandstone Fynbos |
Description | It occurs in sandy areas surrounded by very rocky terrain at 600-700 m. It is largely confined to Bokkeveld Sandstone Fynbos. Mature individuals are killed by fires, and only seeds survive. Seeds are released after ripening, and collected by rodents and stored in underground caches, where they are protected from fires. It is dioecious, with insect-pollinated male and female flowers occurring on separate plants. |
Threats |
| At least 27% (calculated using GIS) of the habitat has been lost in the past due to expansions of rooibos tea fields and fruit orchards. Loss calculated using GIS is suspected to be a significant underestimate as this species is confined to deep sandy habitats which are not independently mapped from sandstone rocky areas around them. Very few deep sandy habitats remain within this species' range as deep sands are targeted for rooibos cultivation, thus the actual loss of its preferred habitat exceeds 80%. Too infrequent fires in isolated patches between rooibos tea fields are causing a decline in the seed bank, affecting the regeneration of plants. Drought-related population mortality (up to 70% of small subpopulations have died) were recorded in 2000, the long term impact of drought needs to be monitored. |
Population |
A large portion of its habitat has been converted, with many of the subpopulations existing in strip ploughed fields or adjacent convectional fields. The largest subpopulation between Taaibosdam and Ribbokfontein has been fragmented by rooibos tea fields. No extensive stands remain. Based on loss of habitat to rooibos tea combined with drought related mortality, the population is suspected to have declined by 50-70% in the past 60 years (generation length 20 years). The population continues to decline due to habitat loss and degradation.
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Population trend | Decreasing |
Conservation |
| A single small subpopulation occurs in the Op de Berg Private Nature Reserve on Matsikammaberg (but this is one of the subpopulations with a recorded above 50% mortality over the last 5 years). |
Assessment History |
Taxon assessed |
Status and Criteria |
Citation/Red List version | | Leucadendron roodii E.Phillips | EN B1ab(ii,iii,iv,v)c(iv)+2ab(ii,iii,iv,v)c(iv) | Raimondo et al. (2009) | | Leucadendron roodii E.Phillips | Rare | Hilton-Taylor (1996) | | Leucadendron roodii E.Phillips | Endangered | 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. 2019. Leucadendron roodii E.Phillips. National Assessment: Red List of South African Plants version . Accessed on 2025/05/26 |
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