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Scientific Name | Leucadendron discolor E.Phillips & Hutch. |
Higher Classification | Dicotyledons |
Family | PROTEACEAE |
Common Names | Piketberg Conebush (e), Red Conebush (e), Rooi-tolbos (a) |
National Status |
Status and Criteria | Vulnerable B1ab(iii,v)+2ab(iii,v) |
Assessment Date | 2020/07/20 |
Assessor(s) | A.G. Rebelo, H. Mtshali & L. von Staden |
Justification | This species has a limited range, with an extent of occurrence (EOO) of 167 km², and an area of occupancy (AOO) of 81 km². There are eight locations that are continuously being degraded by alien plant invasions. Subpopulations are large but are declining as a result of wild flower harvesting and lack of burning. It therefore qualifies as Vulnerable under criterion B. |
Distribution |
Endemism | South African endemic |
Provincial distribution | Western Cape |
Range | It is endemic to the Piketberg Mountains, in the Western Cape Province, South Africa. |
Habitat and Ecology |
Major system | Terrestrial |
Major habitats | Piketberg Sandstone Fynbos |
Description | It occurs on rocky sandstone slopes, 250-1000 m. 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 |
| Past threats include clearing of vegetation in the valley for fruit and protea orchards. The current threat facing this species is lack of fire as these serotinous species senesce if vegetation is not burnt every 15 years. Senescent plants release seeds which are then eaten by rodents and are no longer available to germinate when fires do occur. Another threat is wild flower harvesting. Male plants are harvested for cut flowers resulting in skewed sex ratio of male to females. This species is widely cultivated and there is a potential of hybridization with planted cultivars. Field observations have noted alien invasive species, if these are not managed they are likely to outcompete this species. |
Population |
This species is locally common and widespread over its 39 km range where it has not been ploughed up. Eight subpopulations with thousands of plants exist.
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Population trend | Decreasing |
Conservation |
| It is present in Kapteinskloof and Guys se Kraal Private Nature Reserves. |
Assessment History |
Taxon assessed |
Status and Criteria |
Citation/Red List version | | Leucadendron discolor E.Phillips & Hutch. | EN B1ab(ii,iii,iv,v)+2ab(ii,iii,iv,v) | 2020.1 | | Leucadendron discolor E.Phillips & Hutch. | VU B1ab(ii,iii,iv,v)+2ab(ii,iii,iv,v) | Raimondo et al. (2009) | | Leucadendron discolor E.Phillips & Hutch. | Rare | Hilton-Taylor (1996) | | Leucadendron discolor E.Phillips & Hutch. | Rare | 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.
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 discolor E.Phillips & Hutch. National Assessment: Red List of South African Plants version . Accessed on 2025/03/22 |
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