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Scientific Name | Leucadendron verticillatum (Thunb.) Meisn. |
Higher Classification | Dicotyledons |
Family | PROTEACEAE |
Synonyms | Leucadendron cinereum R.Br. (in part), excluding synonym |
Common Names | Klapmuts Conebush (e) |
National Status |
Status and Criteria | Critically Endangered A2ace |
Assessment Date | 2020/05/20 |
Assessor(s) | D. Raimondo, L. von Staden, J. van der Merwe, R. Koopman & A.G. Rebelo |
Justification | Leucadendron verticillatum is a restricted endemic species known only from the northern parts of the Cape Flats with an extent of occurrence (EOO) of between 69 and 94 km². It has lost 80% of its habitat and remains extant at between three and five subpopulations. Extrapolating monitoring data collected since 1990 indicates that there has been a 98% decline in the populations since 1975 (a three generation time period). The population continues to decline as a result of habitat degradation. It therefore qualifies as Critically Endangered under criterion A. |
Distribution |
Endemism | South African endemic |
Provincial distribution | Western Cape |
Range | It is restricted to the Cape Flats in the Western Cape Province of South Africa occurring between Hercules Pillar, Muldersvlei and Fisantekraal. |
Habitat and Ecology |
Major system | Terrestrial |
Major habitats | Swartland Shale Renosterveld, Swartland Granite Renosterveld, Swartland Alluvium Fynbos |
Description | This species occurs on shale and silts soils in lowland fynbos. Mature individuals are killed by fires, and only seeds survive. Seeds are stored in fire-resistant inflorescences, and released after fires. This species is thus dependent on fire for successful recruitment. It is dioecious, with insect-pollinated male and female flowers occurring on separate plants. Generation length is estimated to be between 15 and 20 years. |
Threats |
| A total of 80% of this species habitat has been irreversibly transformed to crop cultivation for cereals and vines, and urban and industrial development for the City of Cape Town. This species now remains only on small fragments of remnant vegetation where it is experiencing ongoing decline in habitat quality and number of mature individuals as a result of too infrequent fires and severe infestations of invasive alien plants. Between 1990 and 2004 many stands of plants were recorded along road verges these have all be lost to road verge clearing and as a result of lack of burning of tiny remnants of vegetation. |
Population |
Once a fairly common species within suitable habitat on the Cape Flats, this species has lost the majority of its habitat and only between 3 and 5 subpopulations remain. There has been ongoing loss at all monitored subpopulations. The total population is suspected to have been around 24 500 plants in 1975 and has declined to around 490 plants in 2020, a 98% loss in three generations. The trends in subpopulation numbers are detailed below.
The Briers Low Nature Reserve subpopulation numbered 500 mature individuals in 2004 and has declined to 200 mature individuals in 2015. The Joostenbergkloof subpopulation numbered 1500 mature individuals in 1990 and has declined to 100 mature individuals in 2020. The Fisantekraal Aerodrome subpopulation numbered 500 mature individuals in 1998 and there have been no recent surveys at this site, however suitable habitat remains and the subpopulation is likely to be around 200 mature individuals with declines due to invasive alien plant invasions. The subpopulation at Hercules Pillar has declined from 2000 mature individuals in 1970 to fewer than 10 in 2020, this site was burnt in 2020 and it is not certain if this species will recruit again following fire given the low number of mature individuals prior to the fire. The subpopulation at Muldersvlei numbered 500 mature individuals in 1998 and its current status is unknown, however, all habitat appears to have been ploughed and the subpopulation is either very small or completely lost. There have been documented extinctions of subpopulations at the N1 R304 interchange and at Kraaifontein, both which have been lost since 1998.
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Population trend | Decreasing |
Conservation |
| It is only conserved in the J.N. Briers Low (previously Eensaamheid) Nature Reserve. |
Assessment History |
Taxon assessed |
Status and Criteria |
Citation/Red List version | | Leucadendron verticillatum (Thunb.) Meisn. | CR A2c; B1b(i,ii,iii,iv)c(iv) | Raimondo et al. (2009) | | Leucadendron verticillatum (Thunb.) Meisn. | Endangered | Hilton-Taylor (1996) | | Leucadendron verticillatum (Thunb.) Meisn. | 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.
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 |
| Raimondo, D., von Staden, L., van der Merwe, J., Koopman, R. & Rebelo, A.G. 2020. Leucadendron verticillatum (Thunb.) Meisn. National Assessment: Red List of South African Plants version . Accessed on 2025/05/19 |
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