Du Toit's Kloof Conebush

Taxonomy
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.


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 A2cRaimondo 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.


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

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Distribution map

© C. Paterson-Jones

© C. Paterson-Jones

© C. Paterson-Jones


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