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Scientific Name | Leucadendron conicum (Lam.) I.Williams |
Higher Classification | Dicotyledons |
Family | PROTEACEAE |
Synonyms | Leucadendron ramosissimum H.Buek ex Meisn. |
Common Names | Garden Route Conebush (e), Grey Conebush (e), Tolbos (a), Vaal-tolbos (a) |
National Status |
Status and Criteria | Near Threatened B1b(iii,v)+2b(iii,v) |
Assessment Date | 2020/05/20 |
Assessor(s) | A.G. Rebelo, H. Mtshali & L. von Staden |
Justification | This range-restricted species has an extent of occurrence (EOO) of 8087 km², and an area of occupancy (AOO) of 796 km². It is known from more than 10 locations that are threatened by alien plant invasion. The habitat of this species is particularly sensitive to development and alien plant invasion and the population should be closely monitored. Therefore it nearly meets the thresholds for Vulnerable under criterion B. and is assessed as Near Threatened. |
Distribution |
Endemism | South African endemic |
Provincial distribution | Eastern Cape, Western Cape |
Range | This species is endemic in mountains of Western and Eastern Cape, where it occurs form Langeberg to Kouga and Van Staden's Mountains. |
Habitat and Ecology |
Major system | Terrestrial |
Major habitats | Southern Afrotemperate Forest, Kouga Sandstone Fynbos, Tsitsikamma Sandstone Fynbos, South Outeniqua Sandstone Fynbos, North Outeniqua Sandstone Fynbos, South Langeberg Sandstone Fynbos, North Langeberg Sandstone Fynbos |
Description | It occurs in forest margins, riparian and wetland habitats in sandstone fynbos. Mature individuals are killed by fires, and only seeds survive. 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 |
| A small proportion (18%) of this species habitat has been lost in the past mainly to timber plantations. However, as most of the remaining habitat is protected, this threat has ceased, but plantations are a major source of invasive pine seedlings that are spreading into surrounding native vegetation. A large proportion of the range is protected in national parks and other provincial nature reserves where there are ongoing efforts to clear and control invasive species, but thus far, control is proving very difficult due to rugged mountain terrain and insufficient resources for clearing work.
This is a forest margin, riverine and wetland species, and therefore particularly susceptible to development and so should be closely monitored. As a serotinous reseeder it is potentially threatened by too frequent fires, and is it is likely to decline and disappear in areas that are repeatedly burnt before plants reach reproductive maturity.
Climate change and habitat loss models (Bomhard et al. 2005) predicted that this species will decline by 20-30% by 2025 (generation length of 20 years), but climate related declines have not yet been observed. |
Population |
This species occur in dense, extensive stands. Subpopulations are large. A continuing decline is inferred from ongoing competition from alien invasive plants across its range.
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Population trend | Decreasing |
Conservation |
| It is protected within the Ruitersbos, Doringrivier, Witfontein, Millwood, Soetkraal, Lottering Forest, Blue Lily’s Bush and Longmore Forest Nature Reserves. |
Assessment History |
Taxon assessed |
Status and Criteria |
Citation/Red List version | | Leucadendron conicum (Lam.) I.Williams | NT A4c | Raimondo et al. (2009) | |
Bibliography |
Bomhard, B., Richardson, D.M., Donaldson, J.S., Hughes, G.O., Midgley, G.F., Raimondo, D.C., Rebelo, A.G., Rouget, M. and Thuiller, W. 2005. Potential impacts of future land use and climate change on the Red List status of the Proteaceae in the Cape Floristic Region, South Africa. Global Change Biology 11(9):1452-1468.
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.
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.
Vlok, J. and Schutte-Vlok, A.L. 2010. Plants of the Klein Karoo. Umdaus Press, Hatfield.
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Citation |
| Rebelo, A.G., Mtshali, H. & von Staden, L. 2020. Leucadendron conicum (Lam.) I.Williams. National Assessment: Red List of South African Plants version . Accessed on 2025/05/13 |
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