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Scientific Name | Protea denticulata Rourke |
Higher Classification | Dicotyledons |
Family | PROTEACEAE |
Common Names | Tooth-leaf Sugarbush (e) |
National Status |
Status and Criteria | Vulnerable D2 |
Assessment Date | 2019/08/16 |
Assessor(s) | A.G. Rebelo, H. Mtshali & L. von Staden |
Justification | Protea denticulata is a localized endemic, and it is potentially threatened by competition from alien invasive plants across its range. It therefore qualifies as Vulnerable under criterion D. |
Distribution |
Endemism | South African endemic |
Provincial distribution | Western Cape |
Range | This species is endemic to the Potberg Mountain on the eastern boundary of De Hoop Nature Reserve in the Western Cape. |
Habitat and Ecology |
Major system | Terrestrial |
Major habitats | Potberg Sandstone Fynbos, Potberg Ferricrete Fynbos |
Description | It occurs on middle to lower slopes in sandstone and ferricrete fynbos, 0-600 m. It is a long-lived species, and survives fires by resprouting from underground boles or rootstocks. Wind-dispersed seeds are stored in fire-resistant inflorescences, and released after fires. It is pollinated by birds. |
Threats |
| A small percentage of this species' habitat was lost to crop fields in the past. There has however not been any new ploughing since 1990, presumably because remaining areas are unsuited to cultivation, and most of it is now protected in De Hoop Nature Reserve. Alien invasive wattles are present within its habitat, and are threatening to outcompete native species in places. There has been efforts to clear invasive plants, but eradication is proving difficult due to persistent seed banks, from which invasive wattles regenerate profusely following natural wildfires. |
Population |
Protea denticulata is a localized species, but is locally common within its habitat. There are two subpopulations, one on the main ridge of the Potberg Mountain in De Hoop Nature Reserve, which consists of more than 10 000 individuals. The second subpopulation at Infanta is smaller, with several hundred individuals.
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Population trend | Stable |
Assessment History |
Taxon assessed |
Status and Criteria |
Citation/Red List version | | Protea denticulata Rourke | VU D2 | 2020.1 | | Protea denticulata Rourke | Rare | Raimondo et al. (2009) | | Protea denticulata Rourke | Not Threatened | Hilton-Taylor (1996) | | Protea denticulata 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.
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. Protea denticulata Rourke. National Assessment: Red List of South African Plants version . Accessed on 2025/01/20 |
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