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Scientific Name | Paranomus reflexus (E.Phillips & Hutch.) Fourc. |
Higher Classification | Dicotyledons |
Family | PROTEACEAE |
Synonyms | Nivenia reflexa E.Phillips & Hutch. |
Common Names | Geel Paranomus (a), Van Staden's Sceptre (e), Van Staden-septerboom (a), Yellow Paranomus (e) |
National Status |
Status and Criteria | Endangered B1ab(ii,iii,v)+2ab(ii,iii,v) |
Assessment Date | 2020/03/24 |
Assessor(s) | A.G. Rebelo, H. Mtshali & L. von Staden |
Justification | Paranomus reflexus has a restricted range, with an extent of occurrence (EOO) of 1254 km², and an area of occupancy (AOO) of 64-72 km². The population is severely fragmented, and there is ongoing habitat loss and degradation due to fire and alien plant invasion. It therefore qualifies for listing as Endangered under criteria B and C. |
Distribution |
Endemism | South African endemic |
Provincial distribution | Eastern Cape |
Range | This species is endemic to the Van Staden's Mountains in the Eastern Cape Province of South Africa. |
Habitat and Ecology |
Major system | Terrestrial |
Major habitats | Kouga Grassy Sandstone Fynbos, Kouga Sandstone Fynbos |
Description | It grows on drainage lines in sandstone fynbos, 200-7000 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 |
| At least 14% of the habitat is irreversibly modified, predominantly due to afforestation. There is slow ongoing loss (1% of habitat lost between 1990 and 2014) and the small remaining fynbos fragments between plantations are heavily invaded by alien species that are outcompeting native species,. Furthermore this species is subjected to inappropriate fire management, either with too frequent fires taking place in fire breaks, or too infrequent fires elsewhere to avoid risks of damage to plantations. |
Population |
Many subpopulations were extirpated in the 1980s by pine plantations and bad fire management (Vlok 1991). It typically occurs in low densities and solitary plants are often encountered. It has declined significantly in the Van Staden's Mountains, and most subpopulations are small and fragmented, consisting of fewer than 100 plants. The largest subpopulation occurs in Longmore State Forest, where there are around 1000 plants. The population qualifies as severely fragmented as more than 50% of the population is found in small isolated subpopulations. The population is declining due to habitat loss and degradation.
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Population trend | Decreasing |
Conservation |
| It is conserved in the Bergplaatz Wilderness Area, Longmore State Forest, and Vanstadensberg Nature Reserve. |
Assessment History |
Taxon assessed |
Status and Criteria |
Citation/Red List version | | Paranomus reflexus (E.Phillips & Hutch.) Fourc. | EN B1ab(i,ii,iii,iv,v)+2ab(i,ii,iii,iv,v) | Raimondo et al. (2009) | | Paranomus reflexus (E.Phillips & Hutch.) Fourc. | Vulnerable | 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.
Vlok, J. 1991. Unrecognized rare species from the southern Cape. Protea Atlas Newsletter 9:8-9.
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Citation |
| Rebelo, A.G., Mtshali, H. & von Staden, L. 2020. Paranomus reflexus (E.Phillips & Hutch.) Fourc. National Assessment: Red List of South African Plants version . Accessed on 2025/05/22 |
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