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Scientific Name | Protea aspera E.Phillips |
Higher Classification | Dicotyledons |
Family | PROTEACEAE |
Common Names | Aardroos (a), Rough-leaf Sugarbush (e) |
National Status |
Status and Criteria | Vulnerable A2c |
Assessment Date | 2020/06/04 |
Assessor(s) | A.G. Rebelo, H. Mtshali & L. von Staden |
Justification | Protea aspera has a restricted distribution range, with an extent of occurrence (EOO) of 11 092 km², and an area of occupancy (AOO) of 880-884 km². A population reduction of at least 30% over three generations is inferred from habitat loss and degradation over the past 150-300 years. It therefore meets the thresholds for Vulnerable under criteria A. |
Distribution |
Endemism | South African endemic |
Provincial distribution | Western Cape |
Range | This species is widely scattered from the Kleinrivier Mountains to Agulhas and Langeberg Mountains between Garcia's Pass and Cloete's Pass. It is restricted to the Western Cape Province of South Africa. |
Habitat and Ecology |
Major system | Terrestrial |
Major habitats | South Outeniqua Sandstone Fynbos, South Langeberg Sandstone Fynbos, North Langeberg Sandstone Fynbos, Overberg Sandstone Fynbos, Kogelberg Sandstone Fynbos, Elgin Shale Fynbos, Elim Ferricrete Fynbos, Western Coastal Shale Band Vegetation |
Description | It grows on sandstone and shale on lower slopes and flats, 20-700 m. It is a long-lived species (generation length 50-100 years), and survives fires by resprouting from underground stems. Wind-dispersed seeds are stored in fire-resistant inflorescences, and released after fires. It is pollinated by birds. |
Threats |
| A total of 28% of this species' former habitat has been irreversibly transformed. The lowland parts of this species' range on the Agulhas Plain have been lost to agriculture, mainly cereals and protea orchards as well as by gravel mining in the past, and loss and degradation of habitat continues.
Remaining lowland subpopulations, particularly on the Agulhas Plain, occur in isolated remnants, where they are severely threatened by competition from alien invasive plants and inappropriate fire management. The Caledon Swartberg, and Langeberg are densely invaded with Pinus, Hakea and Acacia species, and natural fynbos is becoming increasingly degraded, leading to declines of rare and localized native species. |
Population |
This species occurs as widely scattered plants throughout its range, and the majority of subpopulations are large. It has already lost 28% of its habitat to complete habitat transformation over the past three generations (150- 300 years) a further 5% is under such dense infestations of alien plants that there is no chance that any native fynbos plants survive. With the scattered nature of plants distributed throughout suitable habitat a linear relationship between habitat loss and population decline is expected, hence a 33% loss to the population is inferred. Loss to habitat degradation and transformation is ongoing.
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Population trend | Decreasing |
Conservation |
| It is conserved in the Garcia, Salmonsdam and Heuningberg Nature Reserves, and Rietfontein Private Nature Reserve. |
Assessment History |
Taxon assessed |
Status and Criteria |
Citation/Red List version | | Protea aspera E.Phillips | VU A2c | Raimondo et al. (2009) | |
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.
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. 2020. Protea aspera E.Phillips. National Assessment: Red List of South African Plants version . Accessed on 2025/07/01 |
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