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Scientific Name | Leucospermum hamatum Rourke |
Higher Classification | Dicotyledons |
Family | PROTEACEAE |
Common Names | Ruitersbos Pincushion (e) |
National Status |
Status and Criteria | Endangered B1ab(iii)+2ab(iii) |
Assessment Date | 2020/05/25 |
Assessor(s) | A.G. Rebelo, D. Raimondo & L. von Staden |
Justification | Leucospermum hamatum is a range-restricted endemic to the Outeniqua Mountains in South Africa, it has an extent of occurrence (EOO) of 34 km², and an area of occupancy (AOO) of 28 km². Two known locations are experiencing ongoing decline in quality of habitat as a result of too frequent fire and invasive alien hakeas. This species therefore qualifies as Endangered under criterion B. |
Distribution |
Endemism | South African endemic |
Provincial distribution | Western Cape |
Range | This species has a limited distribution, it is known from the Klein Moeras River to Klein Doring River in the Outeniqua Mountains in the southern Cape, South Africa. |
Habitat and Ecology |
Major system | Terrestrial |
Major habitats | South Outeniqua Sandstone Fynbos, North Outeniqua Sandstone Fynbos |
Description | It occurs in rocky outcrops on north-facing slopes occurring at around 750 m.a.s.l. Mature individuals are killed by fires, and only seeds survive. 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 rodents. |
Threats |
| The two known locations both fall within protected areas, however both subpopulations are impacted by invasive alien hakea species, furthermore 20% of the population has been exposed to too frequent fire, fire return intervals of under 10 years. Both of these two pressures are causing slow but ongoing degradation to this species habitat. |
Population |
Two subpopulations are known, one occurs at Kandelaarsrivier and consists of a few hundred plants in one clump. There are also two isolated stands to the north and east of the main stand. Monitoring data shows the subpopulation has remain at between 400 and 600 mature individuals between 1994 and 2016. Its habitat is however being degraded by invasive alien hakeas which require constant management to avoid this subpopulation declining.
The second subpopulation occurs at in the Upper Moerasrivier and was estimated to be between 100-1000 plants in 1994 and between 100-200 plants in 2015. There are additional stands of isolated plants over a 3 km range to the east and along the spur to Engelseberg, these consisted of between 10 and 100 mature individuals in 1998 and have not been re-monitored in the past 22 years. The subpopulation is suspected to be experiencing slow ongoing declines as a result of competition with invasive alien hakeas.
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Population trend | Decreasing |
Conservation |
| All except the largest subpopulations at Upper Moerasrivier are in the Doringrivier Wilderness Area and Ruitersbos Nature Reserve. |
Assessment History |
Taxon assessed |
Status and Criteria |
Citation/Red List version | | Leucospermum hamatum Rourke | EN B1ac(iv)+2ac(iv) | Raimondo et al. (2009) | | Leucospermum hamatum Rourke | Rare | Hilton-Taylor (1996) | |
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.
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. and Schutte-Vlok, A.L. 2010. Plants of the Klein Karoo. Umdaus Press, Hatfield.
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Citation |
| Rebelo, A.G., Raimondo, D. & von Staden, L. 2020. Leucospermum hamatum Rourke. National Assessment: Red List of South African Plants version . Accessed on 2025/05/14 |
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