Snow Protea

Taxonomy
Scientific Name
Protea cryophila Bolus
Higher Classification
Dicotyledons
Family
PROTEACEAE
Common Names
Sneeublom (a), Sneeuprotea (a), Snow Protea (e), Snowball Protea (e)
National Status
Status and Criteria
Vulnerable D2
Assessment Date
2019/09/27
Assessor(s)
A.G. Rebelo, H. Mtshali & L. von Staden
Justification
Protea cryophila occupy a small area (AOO 68 km²), four subpopulations are potentially threatened by too frequent fire and climate change. Plants are slow to mature and therefore particularly sensitive to increased fire frequency. Although the habitat is untransformed and continuous between locations, subpopulations are isolated.
Distribution
Endemism
South African endemic
Provincial distribution
Western Cape
Range
Cederberg.
Habitat and Ecology
Major system
Terrestrial
Major habitats
Cederberg Sandstone Fynbos
Description
This species occurs in rocky ledges and screes, at 900-1900 m. Mature individuals are killed by fires, and only seeds survive. Wind-dispersed seeds are stored in fire-resistant inflorescences, and released after fires. It is pollinated by rodents.
Threats
Currently, there are no threats to this species, but as a reseeder and slow growing, it is potentially threatened by increasing high frequency of fires, as local extinctions can occur when fires repeatedly kill individuals before they reach reproductive maturity.
Population

This species is locally common and naturally fragmented on half a dozen high peaks. There four known subpopulations, the largest at Langberg/Shadow Peak with over 23000 mature individuals. It is not suspected to be declining, and most of its habitat is in a protected area.


Population trend
Stable
Assessment History
Taxon assessed
Status and Criteria
Citation/Red List version
Protea cryophila BolusNT D2Raimondo et al. (2009)
Protea cryophila BolusRare Hilton-Taylor (1996)
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.


Hilton-Taylor, C. 1996. Red data list of southern African plants. Strelitzia 4. South African National Botanical 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. 2019. Protea cryophila Bolus. National Assessment: Red List of South African Plants version 2020.1. Accessed on 2023/12/01

Comment on this assessment Comment on this assessment
Distribution map


Search for images of Protea cryophila on iNaturalist