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Scientific Name | Leucospermum praecox Rourke |
Higher Classification | Dicotyledons |
Family | PROTEACEAE |
Common Names | Mossel Bay Pincushion (e) |
National Status |
Status and Criteria | Vulnerable A2c |
Assessment Date | 2020/06/22 |
Assessor(s) | A.G. Rebelo, H. Mtshali & L. von Staden |
Justification | Leucospermum praecox is restricted to the Riversdale Plain in South Africa and has an extent of occurrence of 2572 km² and an area of occupancy of 796-800 km². Land cover data indicates that this species has already lost around 23% of its habitat, mainly as a result of agriculture, but this does not include habitat loss due to vegetation management for thatch harvesting, which, based on expert opinion, may have already caused a population reduction of up to 50% in the past 20-40 years. In the absence of data to accurately quantify past population reduction, a population loss of at least 30% is suspected and the population is expected to continue to decline significantly in the next 20 years due to ongoing thatch harvesting and alien plant invasion, which already affect 61% of sites. With a generation length of 20 years this species qualifies for listing as Vulnerable under criterion A. |
Distribution |
Endemism | South African endemic |
Provincial distribution | Western Cape |
Range | This species is endemic to Riversdale Flats, from Puntjie to Mossel Bay in the Western Cape Province of South Africa. |
Habitat and Ecology |
Major system | Terrestrial |
Major habitats | Canca Limestone Fynbos, Albertinia Sand Fynbos, Hartenbos Dune Thicket |
Description | It occurs in tertiary acid sands associated with limestone formations on the coastal forelands. 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 birds. |
Threats |
| A population reduction of over 30% is estimated based on habitat loss in Albertinia and Mossel Bay due to development of holiday resorts/beach housing, agriculture and recreational areas (golf courses) and severe habitat degradation. Although the transformation layer records only 23% habitat loss within its range, this layer under-represents pasture in the area and does not include the extensive land transformation that has taken place to support the reed thatching industry. Vegetation improvement undertaken for thatching involves removing all bushes and is highly detrimental to this large shrubby species.
Protea Atlas Project surveys undertaken between 1992-2002 provided data that indicates that 61% of sites were invaded by aliens plants (acacias and pines), with 23% of sites as dense or impenetrable stands; infestations would have become even more expansive and severe over the past 18 years. Furthermore some 21% of sites occurred on remnants, verges or border on agricultural land. While these sites have not been resurveyed, agriculture remain an ongoing threat in Albertinia district and these subpopulations are suspected to have declined. Other threats to this species include road verge clearing, too frequent fires, and increased molerat activity associated with disturbance. Drought-related mortality events have been noted. |
Population |
Leucospermum praecox was locally abundant and had several dense subpopulations in its habitat in 2002. While recent surveys are lacking we estimate that between 100 and 150 subpopulations remain however the majority of these are small and occur in road verges and between agricultural fields. The population continues to decline due to habitat degradation.
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Population trend | Decreasing |
Conservation |
| It is conserved in the Pauline Bohnen and Reins Private nature reserves. |
Notes |
| The western subpopulations of this species (from Blombos to Witsand) are small-flowered and intermediate between L. praecox and L. truncatum. These subpopulations have not been included in this assessment. |
Assessment History |
Taxon assessed |
Status and Criteria |
Citation/Red List version | | Leucospermum praecox Rourke | VU A2c+3c+4c | Raimondo et al. (2009) | | Leucospermum praecox Rourke | Not Threatened | Hilton-Taylor (1996) | | Leucospermum praecox Rourke | Indeterminate | 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., 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. 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. 2020. Leucospermum praecox Rourke. National Assessment: Red List of South African Plants version . Accessed on 2025/05/13 |
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