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Scientific Name | Paranomus dispersus Levyns |
Higher Classification | Dicotyledons |
Family | PROTEACEAE |
Common Names | Long-head Sceptre (e) |
National Status |
Status and Criteria | Least Concern |
Assessment Date | 2019/06/26 |
Assessor(s) | A.G. Rebelo, H. Mtshali & L. von Staden |
Justification | Paranomus dispersus is widespread and common. It is possibly declining in parts of its range due to competition from alien invasive plants, but is not yet in danger of extinction. It is therefore assessed as Least Concern. |
Distribution |
Endemism | South African endemic |
Provincial distribution | Western Cape |
Range | Paranomus dispersus has a limited range in the mountains of the central Little Karoo, where it occurs in the Swartberg, Touwsberg, Rooiberg, Langeberg and western Outeniqua Mountains between Barrydale and Oudtshoorn. It also occurs on the Riviersonderend Mountains. |
Habitat and Ecology |
Major system | Terrestrial |
Major habitats | Kango Conglomerate Fynbos, South Swartberg Sandstone Fynbos, North Swartberg Sandstone Fynbos, South Rooiberg Sandstone Fynbos, North Rooiberg Sandstone Fynbos, South Outeniqua Sandstone Fynbos, North Outeniqua Sandstone Fynbos, North Langeberg Sandstone Fynbos, South Sonderend Sandstone Fynbos, North Sonderend Sandstone Fynbos, Breede Quartzite Fynbos, Matjiesfontein Quartzite Fynbos, Greyton Shale Fynbos, Swartberg Shale Fynbos, Breede Sand Fynbos |
Description | It occurs in sandy places in sandstone fynbos, 200-1400 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 |
| In the Riviersonderend and Outeniqua mountains, subpopulations are threatened by competition from alien invasive plants. As a reseeder, P. dispersus is potentially vulnerable to too frequent fires, as local extinctions can occur when fires repeatedly kill individuals before they reach reproductive maturity. |
Population |
Population structure is variable, sometimes it occurs in dense stands that dominate the veld, but also as isolated plants (Rebelo 2001). It is possibly declining on the southern slopes of the Riviersonderend Mountains and also in the Outeniqua Mountains, but the majority of the population has no severe threats and is therefore inferred to be stable.
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Population trend | Stable |
Assessment History |
Taxon assessed |
Status and Criteria |
Citation/Red List version | | Paranomus dispersus Levyns | Least Concern | 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.
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.
Vlok, J. and Schutte-Vlok, A.L. 2010. Plants of the Klein Karoo. Umdaus Press, Hatfield.
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Citation |
| Rebelo, A.G., Mtshali, H. & von Staden, L. 2019. Paranomus dispersus Levyns. National Assessment: Red List of South African Plants version . Accessed on 2025/05/22 |
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