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Scientific Name | Leucadendron spissifolium (Salisb. ex Knight) I.Williams subsp. oribinum I.Williams |
Higher Classification | Dicotyledons |
Family | PROTEACEAE |
Common Names | Oribi Spear-leaf Conebush (e) |
National Status |
Status and Criteria | Vulnerable A2c; B1ab(iii,v)+2ab(iii,v) |
Assessment Date | 2020/04/30 |
Assessor(s) | A.G. Rebelo, H. Mtshali & L. von Staden |
Justification | Leucadendron spissifolium subsp. oribinum has a restricted distribution range, with an extent of occurrence (EOO) of 1057-1341 km², and an area of occupancy (AOO) of 120-128 km². It is known from nine locations, and is declining due to ongoing habitat degradation in some parts of its range. Therefore it is assessed as Vulnerable under criterion B. |
Distribution |
Endemism | South African endemic |
Provincial distribution | Eastern Cape, KwaZulu-Natal |
Range | This subspecies occurs in KwaZulu-Natal and Eastern Cape provinces of South Africa, from Oribi Gorge to Mkambati. |
Habitat and Ecology |
Major system | Terrestrial |
Major habitats | Pondoland-Ugu Sandstone Coastal Sourveld |
Description | It occurs in Pondoland coastal grassland, on steep grassy slopes above cliffs, at an altitude of 80-500 m. It is a long-lived species, and survives fires by resprouting from underground boles or rootstocks, thus its generation length is suspected to exceed 100 years. 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 39% of this species' grassland habitat has already been irreversibly modified, mainly to sugarcane, tea and banana cultivation and urban development. This threat has ceased. The remaining habitat is now found mainly on rocky outcrops and adjacent ravines, which are relatively safe from habitat loss. There is however, ongoing degradation of remaining grassland due to too frequent fires and unmanaged invasive plants. Outside protected areas grasslands are burnt frequently to stimulate grazing for cattle. |
Population |
This subspecies is rare and has a narrow distribution. It is known from a range of 106 km, from Oribi Gorge to Mkambati Game Reserve. Although subpopulations remain over much the entire extent of its distribution range, they are becoming smaller. Subpopulations that were found on the edges of the distribution appear to have gone extinct, but some of these may still exist as not all sites were extensively searched. There are three large subpopulations one extremely large one at Umtamvuna Nature Reserve that probably accounts for over 80% of the known population and two extensive subpopulations at Mkambati. The remainder of the populations occurs as small isolated stands of individuals that are experiencing ongoing decline due to too frequent burning. Over 30% of the population is suspected to have declined over the past 200 years (two generations).
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Population trend | Decreasing |
Conservation |
| Conserved in Mkambati, 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. oribinum I.Williams | VU B1ab(i,ii,iii,iv,v) | Raimondo et al. (2009) | | Leucadendron spissifolium (Salisb. ex Knight) I.Williams subsp. oribinum I.Williams | Lower Risk - Conservation Dependent | Scott-Shaw (1999) | | Leucadendron spissifolium (Salisb. ex Knight) I.Williams subsp. oribinum I.Williams | Insufficiently Known | Hilton-Taylor (1996) | |
Bibliography |
Boon, R. 2010. Pooley's Trees of eastern South Africa. Flora and Fauna Publications Trust, Durban.
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.
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. oribinum I.Williams. National Assessment: Red List of South African Plants version . Accessed on 2025/05/31 |
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