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Scientific Name | Leucadendron strobilinum (L.) Druce |
Higher Classification | Dicotyledons |
Family | PROTEACEAE |
Synonyms | Leucadendron concolor R.Br., Leucadendron saxatile T.M.Salter, Leucadendron squarrosum R.Br. |
Common Names | Bergroos (a), Mountain Rose (e), Peninsula Conebush (e), Rock Conebush (e), Rots-tolbos (a) |
National Status |
Status and Criteria | Near Threatened D2 |
Assessment Date | 2020/07/22 |
Assessor(s) | A.G. Rebelo, H. Mtshali & L. von Staden |
Justification | Leucadendron strobilinum is a localized species, with an extent of occurrence (EOO) of 134 km², and an area of occupancy (AOO) of 76-80 km². Eight known locations are potentially vulnerable to alien plant invasion and too frequent fires, which could rapidly cause it to increase its risk of extinction. One subpopulation of this slow-maturing species has been reported as extinct, however the remaining population is currently stable. It therefore almost meets the thresholds for listing as Vulnerable under criterion D and is listed as Near Threatened. |
Distribution |
Endemism | South African endemic |
Provincial distribution | Western Cape |
Range | Leucadendron strobilinum is endemic to the Cape Peninsula, in the Western Cape Province of South Africa. |
Habitat and Ecology |
Major system | Terrestrial |
Major habitats | Peninsula Sandstone Fynbos |
Description | This species occurs on damp, rocky slopes. It is mainly associated with margins of Afromontane forest patches or other relatively fire-safe habitats that do not burn in every fire cycle. Largely confined to Peninsula Sandstone Fynbos. 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 |
| Although the species is found in areas where most fires do not penetrate, as a slow maturing serotinous reseeder it is potentially vulnerable to too frequent fires and local extinctions can occur when fires repeatedly kill individuals before they reach reproductive maturity. Complete fire exclusion is also a potential threat. A few populations adjacent to forests have become moribund due to fire exclusion. Current fire management within its range is allowing the population to remain stable but an increase in fire frequency has taken place on the Cape Peninsula in the past 20 years and if this increases further in response to climate change aridification this species could rapidly become threatened.
Spreading pine seedlings invading the habitat across its range has also been noted, these are currently cleared by the South African National Parks Agency however should resources to clear aliens be reduced this species' habitat would be degraded. |
Population |
This is a slow maturer and it is largely confined to fire-infrequent habitats. Opinions about subpopulation declines are based on this and its association with forest precursors, but appear largely unjustified. Nevertheless the loss of the extinct Slangkop subpopulation is attributed to too frequent fires. The Constantiaberg subpopulation is regularly cleared around the radio masts to protect infrastructure from fires. However the overall population is not suspected to be declining at present, as the entire population occurs within the Table Mountain National Park, it could decline in future if fire frequency increases and density of alien invasive plants were to increase to such an extent as to outcompete native species.
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Population trend | Stable |
Conservation |
| All known subpopulations are in the Table Mountain National Park. |
Assessment History |
Taxon assessed |
Status and Criteria |
Citation/Red List version | | Leucadendron strobilinum (L.) Druce | VU D2 | 2020.1 | | Leucadendron strobilinum (L.) Druce | NT D2 | Raimondo et al. (2009) | | Leucadendron strobilinum (L.) Druce | Rare | Hilton-Taylor (1996) | |
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.
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., Mtshali, H. & von Staden, L. 2020. Leucadendron strobilinum (L.) Druce. National Assessment: Red List of South African Plants version . Accessed on 2025/05/13 |
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