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Scientific Name | Leucadendron dregei E.Mey. ex Meisn. |
Higher Classification | Dicotyledons |
Family | PROTEACEAE |
Synonyms | Leucospermum zwartbergense Bolus |
Common Names | Summit Conebush (e) |
National Status |
Status and Criteria | Endangered C2a(i) |
Assessment Date | 2019/09/04 |
Assessor(s) | A.G. Rebelo, H. Mtshali & L. von Staden |
Justification | Leucadendron dregei has a restricted distribution range (extent of occurrence 2252 km², area of occupancy 272 km²), subpopulations are small, the overall population is estimated to consist of between 1360 and 2000 mature individuals and there is no subpopulation with more than 250 plants. It is slow growing and the popualtion is declining due to too frequent fires. |
Distribution |
Endemism | South African endemic |
Provincial distribution | Eastern Cape, Western Cape |
Range | This species is endemic to Swartberg mountains, occurring from Touwsberg to Meiringspoort, in the Western Cape and Eastern Cape provinces of South Africa. |
Habitat and Ecology |
Major system | Terrestrial |
Major habitats | Swartberg Altimontane Sandstone Fynbos, South Swartberg Sandstone Fynbos, North Swartberg Sandstone Fynbos |
Description | It occurs in sandstone fynbos, amid rocks at high altitudes. 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 |
| This species grows slowly and regular fires have destroyed many colonies (Vlok, 1991). Too frequent fires (CapeNature, 2019), is causing ongoing habitat degradation in many parts of this species' range and as a reseeder, it is likely to decline and disappear in areas that are repeatedly burnt before plants reach reproductive maturity. Although most of the species habitat is in protected areas, Swartberg and Rooiberg mountains are threatened by competition from spreading, unmanaged alien invasive plants. |
Population |
The population is extends along the entire Swartberg range. The majority of subpopulations are small and naturally isolated. There are at least 20 known subpopulations, most subpopulations have between 10 and 50 individuals. There are only three subpopulations that have between 100 and 200 plants. All subpopulations consist of scattered small stands of less than 20 plants spread along high altitude ridges. The total population is estimated to consist of between 1360 and 2000 plants. There is no subpopulation that has a subpopulation of more than 250 mature individuals. A continuing decline is inferred from ongoing habitat degradation from too frequent fires and invasive plant spread.
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Population trend | Decreasing |
Conservation |
| It is conserved at Towerkop, Groot Swartberg and Swartberg East Nature Reserves. |
Assessment History |
Taxon assessed |
Status and Criteria |
Citation/Red List version | | Leucadendron dregei E.Mey. ex Meisn. | EN B1ab(iii,iv)+2ab(iii,iv) | Raimondo et al. (2009) | | Leucadendron dregei E.Mey. ex Meisn. | Rare | Hilton-Taylor (1996) | |
Bibliography |
CapeNature. 2019. Historical fire records sourced from all reserves managed by the Western Cape Conservation Authority CapeNature from 1927 to May 2019. GIS spatial data., https://bgis.sanbi.org/SpatialDataset/Detail/674.
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.
Vlok, J. 1991. Unrecognized rare species from the southern Cape. Protea Atlas Newsletter 9:8-9.
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Citation |
| Rebelo, A.G., Mtshali, H. & von Staden, L. 2019. Leucadendron dregei E.Mey. ex Meisn. National Assessment: Red List of South African Plants version . Accessed on 2025/05/19 |
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