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Scientific Name | Leucadendron spissifolium (Salisb. ex Knight) I.Williams subsp. natalense (Thode & Gilg) I.Williams |
Higher Classification | Dicotyledons |
Family | PROTEACEAE |
Synonyms | Leucadendron natalense Thode & Gilg |
Common Names | Natal Spear-leaf Conebush (e) |
National Status |
Status and Criteria | Vulnerable A2c; B1ab(ii,iii,v)+2ab(ii,iii,v) |
Assessment Date | 2020/04/30 |
Assessor(s) | A.G. Rebelo, H. Mtshali & L. von Staden |
Justification | Leucadendron spissifolium subsp. natalense has a restricted range (extent of occurrence 1185-1327 km², area of occupancy 172-184 km²), and is known from between seven and ten locations. It is declining due to ongoing habitat degradation by alien invasive plants and too frequent fire, and apparent recruitment failure. Furthermore it has lost over 40% of its habitat in the past 150 years to timber plantations and crop cultivation, from this a greater than 30% decline to the population over three generations is inferred. It therefore qualifies for listing as Vulnerable under criteria A and B. |
Distribution |
Endemism | South African endemic |
Provincial distribution | Eastern Cape, KwaZulu-Natal |
Range | This subspecies is endemic to the Eastern Cape and KwaZulu-Natal provinces of South Africa, where it occurs from Port Edward to Port St Johns, and Dwessa Forest Reserve. |
Habitat and Ecology |
Major system | Terrestrial |
Major habitats | Pondoland-Ugu Sandstone Coastal Sourveld |
Description | It is localized to damp places in coastal sandstone grassland, at an altitude of 30-500 m. It is a long-lived taxon (generation length at least 100 years), and survives fires by resprouting from underground boles or rootstocks. 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 |
| At least 40% of this taxon's habitat is irreversibly modified, due to historical habitat loss from housing development, sugarcane, tea and banana cultivation, and timber plantations. Timber plantations are no longer expanding, and thus habitat loss has ceased, but plantations are a major source of invasive pine seedlings that are spreading into surrounding native vegetation.
However there is ongoing degradation of remaining grassland due to too frequent fires and unmanaged invasive plants. Outside protected areas, grasslands tend to be burnt frequently to stimulate grazing for cattle and subpopulations have been noted to be significantly smaller. |
Population |
This taxon occurs in isolated patches of a few scattered plants in coastal grasslands within a range of 180 kms from Port Edward to Dwessa Game Reserve. Protea atlas data collected between 1992 and 2002 indicate that it appears to have been eliminated north of Umtamvuna Nature Reserve. However, large subpopulations remain, especially in nature reserves. The population trend is unknown, but is inferred to be declining due to degradation of habitat. Over 30% of the population has been lost in the two generations (200 years) as a result of habitat transformation.
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Population trend | Decreasing |
Conservation |
| It is presently conserved in Mkambati and Dwesa Game Reserves, and Umtamvuna and Oribi Gorge Nature Reserves. |
Notes |
| The extensive overlap of the two subspecies (natalense and oribinum) without hybridization or intermediates suggests that these are separate species. |
Assessment History |
Taxon assessed |
Status and Criteria |
Citation/Red List version | | Leucadendron spissifolium (Salisb. ex Knight) I.Williams subsp. natalense (Thode & Gilg) I.Williams | NT B2ab(i,ii,iii,iv,v) | Raimondo et al. (2009) | | Leucadendron spissifolium (Salisb. ex Knight) I.Williams subsp. natalense (Thode & Gilg) I.Williams | Lower Risk - Least Concern | Scott-Shaw (1999) | |
Bibliography |
Boon, R. 2010. Pooley's Trees of eastern South Africa. Flora and Fauna Publications Trust, Durban.
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.
Scott-Shaw, C.R. 1999. Rare and threatened plants of KwaZulu-Natal and neighbouring regions. KwaZulu-Natal Nature Conservation Service, Pietermaritzburg.
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Citation |
| Rebelo, A.G., Mtshali, H. & von Staden, L. 2020. Leucadendron spissifolium (Salisb. ex Knight) I.Williams subsp. natalense (Thode & Gilg) I.Williams. National Assessment: Red List of South African Plants version . Accessed on 2025/05/21 |
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