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Scientific Name | Leucospermum harpagonatum Rourke |
Higher Classification | Dicotyledons |
Family | PROTEACEAE |
Common Names | McGregor Pincushion (e) |
National Status |
Status and Criteria | Critically Endangered B1ab(ii,iii,v)+2ab(ii,iii,v); C1+2a(ii) |
Assessment Date | 2020/06/09 |
Assessor(s) | A.G. Rebelo, D. Raimondo, L. von Staden & N.A. Helme |
Justification | Leucospermum harpagonatum is known from a highly restricted area of 2 km², occurring on one mountain slope in the Western Cape Province of South Africa. It has an extent of occurrence (EOO) and an area of occupancy (AOO) of 8 km². The population that currently numbers 125 mature individuals has declined by more than 25% in the past generation. It continues to decline due to maintenance and development of tourism recreational facilities and the impact of alien invasive ants. This species therefore qualifies for listing as Critically Endangered under criteria B and C. |
Distribution |
Endemism | South African endemic |
Provincial distribution | Western Cape |
Range | This species is known from Riviersonderend Mountains near McGregor, in the Western Cape Province of South Africa. |
Habitat and Ecology |
Major system | Terrestrial |
Major habitats | North Sonderend Sandstone Fynbos |
Description | It is found on rocky outcrops on north-facing slopes, 750-800 m. Seeds are released after ripening, and dispersed by ants to their underground nests, where they are protected from predation and fire. This species has a generation length linked to natural fire cycles of between 15 and 20 years. |
Threats |
| Decline due to habitat destruction for tourism infrastructure building of cottages, firebreaks and 4x4 roads is ongoing. In 2014 24% of the population was destroyed to the development of a firebreak around one of the tourism cottages. A number of 4X4 roads and other firebreaks have been developed within the last generation of this species since the year 2000. Invasive alien ants that displace native ant species and do not fulfil the ecological function of burying seeds below the soil are a serious threat to this species. Invasive ants occur around tourism infrastructure due to the presence of permanent water. There are two cottages that have been built in the middle of this tiny population and invasive ants are highly likely to be outcompeting indigenous species. During the 1980s and 1990s this species was also harvested for the cutflower trade. There is also a low severity threat of the spread of invasive alien plants, invasive woody plant species are still relatively sparse in this area. There has been an estimated decline in excess of 25% to the population in the past generation. |
Population |
This species is known from a single subpopulation at Groot Toren above Olifantsdoorns, comprising three stands occurring over a 1.3 km long range. The western stand occurs around a guest cottage and had 50-100 plants in 1994, a large proportion of this stand was destroyed when the landowner ploughed a firebreak around the rocky outcrop and cottage in 2014, only 10 plants remained in 2015. The middle stand consists of five to 15 plants and the largest stand to the east had between 50 and 100 plants in 2015. It is estimated that there are between 75 and 125 mature individuals in the population. The population is experiencing ongoing decline.
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Population trend | Decreasing |
Assessment History |
Taxon assessed |
Status and Criteria |
Citation/Red List version | | Leucospermum harpagonatum Rourke | CR B1ab(iii,v)c(iv)+2ab(iii,v)c(iv); C2a(ii)b | Raimondo et al. (2009) | | Leucospermum harpagonatum Rourke | Endangered | 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.
Rourke, J.P. 1994. Proteaceae: A new species of Leucospermum from the southwestern Cape. Bothalia 24(2):167-170.
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Citation |
| Rebelo, A.G., Raimondo, D., von Staden, L. & Helme, N.A. 2020. Leucospermum harpagonatum Rourke. National Assessment: Red List of South African Plants version . Accessed on 2025/01/21 |
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