Saldanha Pincushion

Taxonomy
Scientific Name
Leucospermum tomentosum (Thunb.) R.Br.
Higher Classification
Dicotyledons
Family
PROTEACEAE
Common Names
Saldanha Pincushion (e)
National Status
Status and Criteria
Near Threatened A2c; B1b(ii,iii,iv,v)+2b(ii,iii,iv,v)
Assessment Date
2020/06/24
Assessor(s)
A.G. Rebelo, H. Mtshali & L. von Staden
Justification
Leucospermum tomentosum is restricted to the West Coast region of South Africa where it has an extent of occurrence (EOO) of 2181-2191 km² and an area of occupancy (AOO) of 460-476km². It is still a relatively common species but is declining due to habitat loss to crop cultivation in coastal areas, and elsewhere in its range it is threatened by alien acacia invasion, browsing and overgrazing. It occurs at more than 10 locations. A population reduction of 25% is inferred from habitat loss over the past three generations (generation length 150-300 years). Therefore it nearly meets the thresholds for Vulnerable under criteria A and B and is listed as Near Threatened.
Distribution
Endemism
South African endemic
Provincial distribution
Western Cape
Range
It is endemic to coastal and inland flats in the Western Cape Province of South Africa, occurring from Hopefield to Bokbaai.
Habitat and Ecology
Major system
Terrestrial
Major habitats
Cape Flats Dune Strandveld, Langebaan Dune Strandveld, Saldanha Flats Strandveld, Swartland Granite Renosterveld, Atlantis Sand Fynbos, Hopefield Sand Fynbos
Description
It grows on sandy flats near the coast, 20-200 m. It is a long-lived species (generation length 50-100 years) 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 insects.
Threats
Agriculture (cereals, pasture, potatoes) were a severe past threat especially in the areas between Mamre and the Berg River. A total of about 31% of this species' habitat has been irreversibly transformed. This species straddles the boundary between Fynbos and Strandveld and throughout the coastal portion of its range it is largely confined to strip ploughed areas between agricultural land and road verges. It is further threatened by browsing cattle, competition from alien invasive plants, particularly acacias, inappropriate fire management, and groundwater extraction. Global climate change is likely to be threat. Land transformation models (Bomhard et al. 2005) predicted habitat loss of up to 50% under a high transformation scenario, and a population reduction of at least 30% by 2025, but no such drastic habitat and population reductions have yet been observed.
Population

It is known from a 79 km range, where it occurs in several large subpopulations. Leucospermum tomentosum was previously thought to be a coastal species, but this species is now known to occur as far inland as Hopefield. Along the R27 from the Mamre turnoff to the Darling turnoff, it is largely confined to road verges and strip-ploughed agricultural land. It is still extensive outside of the coastal zone despite it being invaded by alien acacias. The population has declined by an estimated 25% in the past 3 generations (150-300 years) from ongoing habitat loss and degradation, loss is ongoing.


Population trend
Decreasing
Assessment History
Taxon assessed
Status and Criteria
Citation/Red List version
Leucospermum tomentosum (Thunb.) R.Br.VU A3c+4cRaimondo et al. (2009)
Leucospermum tomentosum (Thunb.) R.Br.Vulnerable Hilton-Taylor (1996)
Leucospermum tomentosum (Thunb.) R.Br.Rare Hall et al. (1980)
Bibliography

Bomhard, B., Richardson, D.M., Donaldson, J.S., Hughes, G.O., Midgley, G.F., Raimondo, D.C., Rebelo, A.G., Rouget, M. and Thuiller, W. 2005. Potential impacts of future land use and climate change on the Red List status of the Proteaceae in the Cape Floristic Region, South Africa. Global Change Biology 11(9):1452-1468.


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.


Citation
Rebelo, A.G., Mtshali, H. & von Staden, L. 2020. Leucospermum tomentosum (Thunb.) R.Br. National Assessment: Red List of South African Plants version . Accessed on 2025/01/21

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