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Scientific Name | Leucadendron daphnoides (Thunb.) Meisn. |
Higher Classification | Dicotyledons |
Family | PROTEACEAE |
Synonyms | Leucadendron venosum R.Br. |
Common Names | Du Toit's Kloof Conebush (e) |
National Status |
Status and Criteria | Near Threatened B1b(iii,v)+2b(iii,v) |
Assessment Date | 2020/07/15 |
Assessor(s) | A.G. Rebelo, H. Mtshali & L. von Staden |
Justification | This species has a restricted range in the mountains of the south-western Cape in South Africa, and has an extent of occurrence (EOO) of 1110km² and an area of occupancy (AOO) of 22 km². While it is known from more than 10 locations, the population is declining as a result of severe infestations of invasive alien plant species. It therefore almost qualifies under criterion B for the category Vulnerable and is listed as Near Threatened. |
Distribution |
Endemism | South African endemic |
Provincial distribution | Western Cape |
Range | This species is endemic to mountains of Western Cape Province of South Africa occurring from Du Toit's Kloof to Villiersdorp. |
Habitat and Ecology |
Major system | Terrestrial |
Major habitats | Elgin Shale Fynbos, Cape Winelands Shale Fynbos, Boland Granite Fynbos, Western Coastal Shale Band Vegetation, Swartland Alluvium Fynbos |
Description | It occurs on granite slopes, at an altitude of 150-1300 m. Mature individuals are killed by fires, and only seeds survive. Seeds are released after ripening, and collected by rodents and stored in underground caches, where they are protected from fires. It is dioecious, with insect-pollinated male and female flowers occurring on separate plants. |
Threats |
This species has lost habitat to agriculture (vines, fruit, olives, and buchu cultivation) and timber plantations in the past, but plantations are no longer expanding, and in many places they are being phased out, and therefore this threat has ceased. There is ongoing habitat loss and degradation as a result of competition with alien invasive plants. Wattles, hakeas and pines continue to spread and increase in density in the Du Toit's Kloof. The Kaaimansgat Valley in the Stettyns Mountains is also under plantations, and a potential source of alien invasive plants. If these are not urgently cleared, they are likely to outcompete native species in future.
It is also threatened by too frequent fires in isolated remnants. In 1996 and 1999 drought-related mortality events were observed in some subpopulations. Ongoing monitoring is needed, particularly as droughts are increasing pressure on groundwater in the Western Cape. |
Population |
Subpopulations are usually extensive and found in dense stands. Although extending in range over 50 km, the south-western third of the subpopulations are all small occurring in isolated fragments outside of nature reserves above vineyards and olive groves, and in and above adjacent to pine plantations.
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Population trend | Decreasing |
Conservation |
Only the parts of the population that occur at Purgatory Outspan and Blokkop are in conservation areas. |
Assessment History |
Taxon assessed |
Status and Criteria |
Citation/Red List version | Leucadendron daphnoides (Thunb.) Meisn. | EN A2c | Raimondo et al. (2009) | Leucadendron daphnoides (Thunb.) Meisn. | Vulnerable | 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.
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 daphnoides (Thunb.) Meisn. National Assessment: Red List of South African Plants version . Accessed on 2025/07/04 |