Kouga Sceptre

Taxonomy
Scientific Name
Paranomus esterhuyseniae Levyns
Higher Classification
Dicotyledons
Family
PROTEACEAE
Common Names
Kouga Sceptre (e)
National Status
Status and Criteria
Near Threatened B1ab(iii)+2ab(iii)
Assessment Date
2020/05/14
Assessor(s)
A.G. Rebelo, H. Mtshali & L. von Staden
Justification
Paranomus esterhuyseniae has a restricted range, with an extent of occurrence (EOO) of 813 km², and an area of occupancy (AOO) of 144 km². Subpopulations are small and naturally isolated, thus the population is considered to be severely fragmented. Although alien invasive plants are present in its habitat at very low density, the population is not yet declining. Therefore it nearly meets the criteria thresholds for Vulnerable under criterion B and is listed as Near Threatened.
Distribution
Endemism
South African endemic
Provincial distribution
Eastern Cape, Western Cape
Range
This species is restricted in the mountains of Western and Eastern Cape provinces of South Africa, occurring in the Outeniqua and Kouga Mountains.
Habitat and Ecology
Major system
Terrestrial
Major habitats
Kouga Grassy Sandstone Fynbos, Kouga Sandstone Fynbos
Description
It is confined dry upper slopes of sandstone fynbos, at 700-1450 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
Climate-change models predicted it will be VU by 2025 (Bomhard et al. 2005), but no declines have yet been observed. There is no severe ongoing habitat loss, but a small proportion of loss has taken place in the past with 1% of its habitat lost between 1990 and 2014. Alien invasive plants are present at very low densities particularly outside protected areas, and if left unmanaged they are likely to cause habitat degradation.
Population

This species is known from small, isolated subpopulations consisting of a few hundred plants in each subpopulation. As it has no severe threats, it is not suspected to be declining, but ongoing monitoring is needed.


Population trend
Stable
Conservation
It is protected in the Kouga, Baviaanskloof and Berg Plaatz Wilderness Areas.
Assessment History
Taxon assessed
Status and Criteria
Citation/Red List version
Paranomus esterhuyseniae LevynsNT A3c+4cRaimondo et al. (2009)
Paranomus esterhuyseniae LevynsRare Hilton-Taylor (1996)
Paranomus esterhuyseniae LevynsIndeterminate Hall et al. (1980)
Bibliography

Bomhard, B., Richardson, D.M., Donaldson, J.S., Hughes, G.O., Midgley, G.F., Raimondo, D.C., Rebelo, A.G., Rouget, M. and Thuiller, W. 2005. Potential impacts of future land use and climate change on the Red List status of the Proteaceae in the Cape Floristic Region, South Africa. Global Change Biology 11(9):1452-1468.


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.


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.


Citation
Rebelo, A.G., Mtshali, H. & von Staden, L. 2020. Paranomus esterhuyseniae Levyns. National Assessment: Red List of South African Plants version . Accessed on 2025/07/09

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Distribution map

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