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Scientific Name | Leucadendron elimense E.Phillips subsp. elimense |
Higher Classification | Dicotyledons |
Family | PROTEACEAE |
Common Names | Elim Conebush (e) |
National Status |
Status and Criteria | Endangered B1b(ii,iii,v)+2ab(ii,iii,v) |
Assessment Date | 2020/06/07 |
Assessor(s) | A.G. Rebelo, H. Mtshali & L. von Staden |
Justification | This subspecies has a limited distribution range, with an extent of occurrence (EOO) of 983 km², and an area of occupancy (AOO) of 372 km². The population is severely fragmented and there is continuing decline due to ongoing habitat loss and degradation. It is also declining due to wild flower harvesting. It qualifies for listing as Endangered under criterion B. |
Distribution |
Endemism | South African endemic |
Provincial distribution | Western Cape |
Range | It is endemic to the Western Cape Province of South Africa, where it occurs on the Elim Flats, from Gansbaai to Bredasdorp. |
Habitat and Ecology |
Major system | Terrestrial |
Major habitats | Overberg Sandstone Fynbos, Elim Ferricrete Fynbos, Agulhas Sand Fynbos |
Description | It is most prominent in Elim Ferricrete Fynbos, in shallow soil that overlies ironstone gravel and prefers heavy soils in wet areas, 80-300 m. Mature individuals are killed by fires, and only seeds survive. Seeds are released after ripening, and is stored in surface leaf-litter. It is dioecious, with insect-pollinated male and female flowers occurring on separate plants. |
Threats |
| This subspecies has already lost 38% of its habitat to crop cultivation around Elim and Bredasdorp, and only small, isolated remnants remain. These fragments continue to be lost to ongoing agricultural expansion, gravel mining, and are otherwise often poorly managed, with mowing, grazing, uncontrolled spread of alien invasive plants and too infrequent fire occurring in many fragments. It is also threatened by wild flower harvesting. Drought-related mortality has been observed in some stands. Therefore ongoing monitoring is needed, particularly as droughts in the Western Cape increase pressure on groundwater resources, on which this subspecies is dependent. |
Population |
It is currently known from 69 subpopulations the majority occurring in isolated remnants between crop fields, more than 50% of the population is found in small isolated subpopulations. It is declining due to habitat loss and degradation of remnant fragments.
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Population trend | Decreasing |
Conservation |
| Only conserved in the Brandfontein-Rietfontein Private Nature Reserve. |
Assessment History |
Taxon assessed |
Status and Criteria |
Citation/Red List version | | Leucadendron elimense E.Phillips subsp. elimense | EN A2c | Raimondo et al. (2009) | | Leucadendron elimense E.Phillips subsp. elimense | Vulnerable | Hilton-Taylor (1996) | | Leucadendron elimense E.Phillips subsp. elimense | Endangered | Hall et al. (1980) | |
Bibliography |
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.
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 elimense E.Phillips subsp. elimense. National Assessment: Red List of South African Plants version . Accessed on 2025/04/19 |
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