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Scientific Name | Leucospermum bolusii Gand. |
Higher Classification | Dicotyledons |
Family | PROTEACEAE |
Synonyms | Leucospermum album Bond |
Common Names | Gordon's Bay Pincushion (e), Luisiesbos (a) |
National Status |
Status and Criteria | Vulnerable D2 |
Assessment Date | 2019/09/19 |
Assessor(s) | A.G. Rebelo, H. Mtshali & L. von Staden |
Justification | Leucospermum bolusii is known from a 12 km range from five locations where it is potentially threatened by too frequent fires, and alien plant and ant invasions. It therefore qualifies for listing as Vulnerable under criterion D. |
Distribution |
Endemism | South African endemic |
Provincial distribution | Western Cape |
Range | This species has a limited distribution in the Western Cape Province of South Africa, occurring from Gordon's Bay to Kogel Bay. It has an extent of occurrence of 103 km² and an area of occupancy of 52 km². |
Habitat and Ecology |
Major system | Terrestrial |
Major habitats | Kogelberg Sandstone Fynbos, Cape Winelands Shale Fynbos, Boland Granite Fynbos, Western Coastal Shale Band Vegetation |
Description | It occurs on steep, gravelly, lower west-facing coastal slopes, at 0-400 m. 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 insects. |
Threats |
| Leucospermum bolusii has lost 25% of its habitat to urban expansion in Gordons Bay in the past. Loss to coastal development has now ceased and the majority of the population occurs within the Kogelberg Biosphere Reserve. Although the Kogelberg is a well-managed reserve, uncontrolled frequent fires are becoming a problem. Furthermore invasive alien ants that are already present are likely to be a future threat as they displace indigenous ants. As this species is entirely dependent upon endemic ants for dispersal of seeds this is a plausible future potential threat and requires monitoring. Plants are also potentially vulnerable to alien invasive plant spread (acacias and pines) with both these species already present in low densities. The management of invasive alien plant species within Kogelberg Nature Reserve has to date been excellent but requires ongoing active attention and resources to keep these species from establishing. |
Population |
Leucospermum bolusii is a rare endemic that occupies a small area with a large and dense population. It is not suspected to be declining at present, but could decline in future if density of alien invasive plants were to increase to such an extent as to outcompete native species, or if invasive ants displaced indigenous ants.
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Population trend | Stable |
Conservation |
| Protected within the mountain catchment areas adjacent to Kogelberg Nature Reserve. |
Assessment History |
Taxon assessed |
Status and Criteria |
Citation/Red List version | | Leucospermum bolusii Gand. | VU D2 | 2020.1 | | Leucospermum bolusii Gand. | NT D2 | Raimondo et al. (2009) | | Leucospermum bolusii Gand. | Not Threatened | Hilton-Taylor (1996) | |
Bibliography |
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.
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Citation |
| Rebelo, A.G., Mtshali, H. & von Staden, L. 2019. Leucospermum bolusii Gand. National Assessment: Red List of South African Plants version . Accessed on 2025/03/27 |
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