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Scientific Name | Leucospermum pluridens Rourke |
Higher Classification | Dicotyledons |
Family | PROTEACEAE |
Common Names | Robinson Pincushion (e), Robinson-kreupelhout (a) |
National Status |
Status and Criteria | Near Threatened B1b(iii,v)+2b(iii,v) |
Assessment Date | 2019/09/16 |
Assessor(s) | A.G. Rebelo, H. Mtshali & L. von Staden |
Justification | Leucospermum pluridens has a restricted range with an extent of occurrence (EOO) of 926 km² and an area of occupancy of 172 km². The population consists of scattered subpopulations 22% of which are small and fragmented. It is currently known from over 10 locations that continues to decline due to ongoing degradation. Past declines have been noted, but the reasons are unknown. It therefore nearly meets the thresholds for listing as Vulnerable under criterion B and is listed as Near Threatened. |
Distribution |
Endemism | South African endemic |
Provincial distribution | Western Cape |
Range | This species is endemic to the mountains of Western Cape Province in South Africa, occurring on the Outeniqua Mountains, and the Rooiberg and Gamkaberg. |
Habitat and Ecology |
Major system | Terrestrial |
Major habitats | South Rooiberg Sandstone Fynbos, North Rooiberg Sandstone Fynbos, North Outeniqua Sandstone Fynbos |
Description | It grows in arid margins of fynbos on north-facing foot slopes, at an altitude of 300-1000 m. Mature individuals are killed by fires, and only seeds survive. Seeds are released after ripening, and are dispersed by ants to their underground nests, where they are protected from predation and fire. It is pollinated by birds. |
Threats |
| Less than 10% of this species' habitat is currently transformed. It was thought to be threatened by global climate change as there have been unexplained declines taking place at certain subpopulations, however the actual cause for these declines remains unknown and they have only impacted a handful of subpopulations. At present the habitat is threatened by too frequent fires, spreading alien invasive plants across the range and a low level of habitat transformation. |
Population |
In 1985 this species was known from two remote areas about 40 km apart, one with 20 plants in 250 ha (Hall and Veldhuis, 1985), and was still considered localized in 1991 (Vlok, 1991). Several additional subpopulations were discovered by the Protea Atlas Project surveys that took place between 1992 and 2002.
This species is restricted to few localities where it is not abundant. Thirteen of the 57 subpopulations are small and isolated. Unexplained population decline has been observed in some subpopulations, but the causes of these declines is unknown and should be investigated. There is steady ongoing decline to the population as a result of habitat degradation.
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Population trend | Decreasing |
Conservation |
| It occurs in the Gamka Nature Reserve. Many subpopulations lie just outside of major nature reserves (Doring River, Rooiberg, Ruitersbos). |
Assessment History |
Taxon assessed |
Status and Criteria |
Citation/Red List version | | Leucospermum pluridens Rourke | NT B1ab(v)+2ab(v) | Raimondo et al. (2009) | | Leucospermum pluridens Rourke | Vulnerable | Hilton-Taylor (1996) | | Leucospermum pluridens Rourke | Rare | Hall et al. (1980) | |
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.
Hall, A.V. and Veldhuis, R.N.J. 1985. South Arican red data book: Plants - Fynbos and Karoo biomes. South African National Scientific Programmes Report 117. CSIR, Pretoria.
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.
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. 1991. Unrecognized rare species from the southern Cape. Protea Atlas Newsletter 9:8-9.
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 pluridens Rourke. National Assessment: Red List of South African Plants version . Accessed on 2025/02/18 |
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