|
Scientific Name | Leucadendron loranthifolium (Salisb. ex Knight) I.Williams |
Higher Classification | Dicotyledons |
Family | PROTEACEAE |
Synonyms | Leucadendron pearsonii E.Phillips, Leucadendron pseudospathulatum E.Phillips & Hutch. |
Common Names | Botterknoppie (a), Botterpitjie (a), Green-flower Sunbush (e) |
National Status |
Status and Criteria | Near Threatened B1b(ii,iii,v)+2b(ii,iii,v) |
Assessment Date | 2019/09/04 |
Assessor(s) | A.G. Rebelo, H. Mtshali & L. von Staden |
Justification | Leucadendron loranthifolium has a restricted-range, with an extent of occurrence (EOO) of 12 892km², and an area of occupancy (AOO) of 1104 km². A total of 28% of its habitat has been transformed by expanding agriculture and loss is ongoing. There is a continuing decline in the area and extent of suitable habitat outside protected areas. This species, however, occurs in large stands and is known from more than 10 locations, and therefore it nearly meets the criteria thresholds for Vulnerable under criterion B and is listed as Near Threatened. |
Distribution |
Endemism | South African endemic |
Provincial distribution | Western Cape |
Range | This species is endemic in the Western Cape, South Africa, where it occurs from Gifberg to Hex River Mountains. |
Habitat and Ecology |
Major system | Terrestrial |
Major habitats | Piketberg Sandstone Fynbos, Cederberg Sandstone Fynbos, Nardouw Sandstone Fynbos, Olifants Sandstone Fynbos, Graafwater Sandstone Fynbos, Bokkeveld Sandstone Fynbos, Swartruggens Quartzite Fynbos, Hopefield Sand Fynbos, Leipoldtville Sand Fynbos, Breede Alluvium Fynbos |
Description | It occurs in sandy or stony sandstone soils, 50-1400 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 and germinate following fires. It is dioecious, with insect-pollinated male and female flowers occurring on separate plants. |
Threats |
| This species' preferred habitat is ideally suited for the cultivation of rooibos tea, potatoes, vines and fruits. Outside the protected areas, there is ongoing habitat loss to agricultural expansion, with 4% habitat loss recorded between 1990 and 2014 and a total of 28% of its habitat has to date been irreversibly modified. The remaining habitat is continuously degraded by lack of fire, spreading alien invasive plants and ground water abstraction. |
Population |
This species occurs in dense or sparse isolated stands with several dozen to hundreds of plants (Rebelo, 2001). There is an outlier subpopulation at Hex River valley, isolated from its nearest L. loranthifolium by 105 km. The population is large (>10 000 mature individuals). A continuing decline of the population is inferred from ongoing habitat loss due to agriculture expansion.
|
Population trend | Decreasing |
Conservation |
| It is protected in the Cedarberg Wilderness Area, Bushmanskloof, and at Matjiesrivier Nature Reserves. |
Notes |
| A variable species, with many different leaf shapes and sizes over its distribution range. |
Assessment History |
Taxon assessed |
Status and Criteria |
Citation/Red List version | | Leucadendron loranthifolium (Salisb. ex Knight) I.Williams | NT B1ab(iii,v)+2ab(iii,v) | Raimondo et al. (2009) | |
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.
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. 2019. Leucadendron loranthifolium (Salisb. ex Knight) I.Williams. National Assessment: Red List of South African Plants version . Accessed on 2025/05/15 |
Comment on this assessment
