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Scientific Name | Vexatorella latebrosa Rourke |
Higher Classification | Dicotyledons |
Family | PROTEACEAE |
Common Names | Robertson Vexator (e) |
National Status |
Status and Criteria | Critically Rare |
Assessment Date | 2020/07/07 |
Assessor(s) | A.G. Rebelo & D. Raimondo |
Justification | Vexatorella latebrosa is known from a single restricted population that occurs in the Langeberg Mountains of South Africa. It has an extent of occurrence (EOO) and an area of occupancy (AOO) of 4 km², there are no current threats to this species and it therefore qualifies for listing under the IUCN Categories as Least Concerned. Nationally it is recognized as a restricted range species and has the category of Critically Rare. |
Distribution |
Endemism | South African endemic |
Provincial distribution | Western Cape |
Range | This species is known from Langeberg Mountains near Robertson, in the Western Cape Province of South Africa. |
Habitat and Ecology |
Major system | Terrestrial |
Major habitats | Breede Shale Fynbos |
Description | It is found in fynbos-renostreveld ecotones, predominantly on shale soils, 400-900 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 |
| While only known from one subpopulation there are no recorded threats, this species occurs within a protected area, and fire return intervals monitored by the conservation agency CapeNature show no indication of too frequent fires. |
Population |
In the late 1970’s thousands of seedlings were seen (Rourke, 1984a), but protea atlas data suggest 500-1000 mature individuals (1993-2002). Seedling density can not be used to estimate population size as proteas naturally have high recruitment densities with many of these individuals not making it to adult hood. There were about 1500 plants in 2011 (N.A. Helme pers. obs.), which indicates the population is stable.
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Population trend | Stable |
Conservation |
| It is not currently conserved in any formally protected area. |
Assessment History |
Taxon assessed |
Status and Criteria |
Citation/Red List version | | Vexatorella latebrosa Rourke | CR B1ac(iv)+2ac(iv) | Raimondo et al. (2009) | | Vexatorella latebrosa Rourke | Rare | 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.
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.
Rourke, J.P. 1984. Vexatorella Rourke, a new genus of Proteaceae from southern Africa. Journal of South African Botany 50:373-391.
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Citation |
| Rebelo, A.G. & Raimondo, D. 2020. Vexatorella latebrosa Rourke. National Assessment: Red List of South African Plants version . Accessed on 2025/01/17 |
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