| Scientific Name | Leucospermum cuneiforme (Burm.f.) Rourke | Higher Classification | Dicotyledons | Family | PROTEACEAE | Synonyms | Leucospermum attenuatum R.Br., Leucospermum ellipticum (Thunb.) R.Br. | Common Names | Common Pincushion (e), Gewone Luisiesbos (a), Isiqwane (x), Luisiesbos (a), Wart-stemmed Pincushion (e) |
National Status | Status and Criteria | Least Concern | Assessment Date | 2019/06/21 | Assessor(s) | A.G. Rebelo, H. Mtshali & L. von Staden | Justification | Leucospermum cuneiforme is a widespread and common species. It has declined due to habitat loss on the coast in the past, but current rates of habitat loss is very low, and it is unlikely to meet criteria thresholds for Vulnerable in the near future. |
Distribution | Endemism | South African endemic | Provincial distribution | Eastern Cape, Western Cape | Range | Leucospermum cuneiforme is widespread across the Cape Floristic Region, where it occurs from the Riviersonderend Mountains in the Western Cape eastwards along the Cape Fold Mountains and coastal sandy lowlands to Port Elizabeth and Grahamstown in the Eastern Cape. Isolated subpopulations occur in dune thicket at the Fish River Mouth and Qolora. |
Habitat and Ecology | Major system | Terrestrial | Major habitats | Eastern Coastal Shale Band Vegetation, Goukamma Dune Thicket, Grootrivier Quartzite Fynbos, Garden Route Shale Fynbos, Greyton Shale Fynbos, Swartberg Shale Fynbos, Suurberg Shale Fynbos, Garden Route Granite Fynbos, Albertinia Sand Fynbos, North Sonderend Sandstone Fynbos, Swellendam Silcrete Fynbos, South Sonderend Sandstone Fynbos, Eastern Inland Shale Band Vegetation, Central Coastal Shale Band Vegetation, Central Inland Shale Band Vegetation, Western Coastal Shale Band Vegetation, Hamburg Dune Thicket, Kasouga Dune Thicket, Hartenbos Dune Thicket, Grahamstown Grassland Thicket, Knysna Sand Fynbos, South Swartberg Sandstone Fynbos, Bhisho Thornveld, Groot Brak Dune Strandveld, Humansdorp Shale Renosterveld, Mossel Bay Shale Renosterveld, Loerie Conglomerate Fynbos, Kango Conglomerate Fynbos, Algoa Sandstone Fynbos, Kouga Grassy Sandstone Fynbos, Suurberg Quartzite Fynbos, South Kammanassie Sandstone Fynbos, South Eastern Coastal Thornveld, South Rooiberg Sandstone Fynbos, North Rooiberg Sandstone Fynbos, Tsitsikamma Sandstone Fynbos, South Outeniqua Sandstone Fynbos, North Outeniqua Sandstone Fynbos, Potberg Sandstone Fynbos, South Langeberg Sandstone Fynbos, North Langeberg Sandstone Fynbos, Kouga Sandstone Fynbos | Description | It occurs on sandy slopes and flats in fynbos and dune thicket, 0-1500 m. It is a long-lived species, and survives fires by resprouting from underground boles or rootstocks. Seeds are released after ripening, and dispersed by ants to their underground nests, where they are protected from predation and fire. It is pollinated by birds. |
Threats | | Historically, this species has lost about 24% of its habitat, mainly to coastal development, urban expansion, timber plantations and agriculture on the coastal lowlands between Stilbaai and Port Elizabeth. Habitat loss to development continues, particularly along the Garden Route and around Port Elizabeth. It is however highly unlikely that habitat loss will exceed 30% as most of this species' remaining habitat is in mountainous areas unsuited to development and agriculture.
Alien invasive plants are spreading into its habitat, particularly in areas near timber plantations, a major source of escaped pine seedlings. As alien invasive plants are spreading and increasing in density over large areas of the mountains of the Western Cape, they are outcompeting native species. Habitat degradation due to overgrazing by livestock has also been observed at a few localities in the Eastern Cape. |
Population | This species is widespread and common, but tends to occur in low densities as scattered plants over large areas. It is a very long-lived species (generation length 50-100 years), and a population reduction of 20% over the past three generations could be inferred from past habitat loss. Recent rates of habitat loss is however very low (1% in 24 years), and since most of this species' remaining habitat is in montane areas, it is unlikely that population reduction will exceed 30% in three generations. Slow, sporadic declines due to habitat loss on the coastal lowlands is possible.
| Population trend | Decreasing |
Assessment History |
Taxon assessed |
Status and Criteria |
Citation/Red List version | | Leucospermum cuneiforme (Burm.f.) Rourke | Least Concern | Raimondo et al. (2009) | |
Bibliography | Boon, R. 2010. Pooley's Trees of eastern South Africa. Flora and Fauna Publications Trust, Durban.
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.
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. and Schutte-Vlok, A.L. 2010. Plants of the Klein Karoo. Umdaus Press, Hatfield.
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Citation | | Rebelo, A.G., Mtshali, H. & von Staden, L. 2019. Leucospermum cuneiforme (Burm.f.) Rourke. National Assessment: Red List of South African Plants version . Accessed on 2025/01/18 |
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 © D. Turner  © D. Turner  © D. Turner  © D. Turner  © D. Turner  © D. Turner  © D. Turner  © J.H. Vlok/A.L. Schutte-Vlok  © J.H. Vlok/A.L. Schutte-Vlok  © J.H. Vlok/A.L. Schutte-Vlok  © M. Treurnicht  © Outramps  © Outramps
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