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Scientific Name | Paranomus adiantifolius Salisb. ex Knight |
Higher Classification | Dicotyledons |
Family | PROTEACEAE |
Synonyms | Nivenia parvifolia R.Br., Paranomus spathulatus N.E.Br. |
Common Names | Hairy-style Sceptre (e) |
National Status |
Status and Criteria | Endangered B1ab(iii,v)c(iv)+2ab(iii,v)c(iv) |
Assessment Date | 2020/05/31 |
Assessor(s) | A.G. Rebelo, D. Raimondo, L. von Staden & N.A. Helme |
Justification | Paranomus adiantifolius is a range-restricted Fynbos mountain endemic that has an extent of occurrence (EOO) of 184 km² and an area of occupancy (AOO) of 20 km². It occurs at two locations where subpopulations are declining due to alien plant invasion and too frequent fire. Furthermore the population experiences fire-related fluctuations. This species therefore qualifies as Endangered under criterion B. |
Distribution |
Endemism | South African endemic |
Provincial distribution | Western Cape |
Range | This species is known from Groenland and Riviersonderend Mountains, in the Western Cape Province of South Africa. |
Habitat and Ecology |
Major system | Terrestrial |
Major habitats | South Sonderend Sandstone Fynbos, North Sonderend Sandstone Fynbos, Kogelberg Sandstone Fynbos |
Description | It occurs in sandstone fynbos on south slopes. 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 germinate following fire. It is pollinated by insects. This is an early maturing species present 5 years after a fire, numbers rapidly decline after flowering and no plants may be present in 15-year old vegetation, however at least 10 year fire return intervals are required to ensure that sufficient seed is set to maintain the population. |
Threats |
| Both known subpopulations are threatened by invasive woody plant species including Pinus, Hakea and Acacia. Too-frequent fire, is also a significant threat with the conservation agency CapeNature's fire records showing that 60% of the largest subpopulation between Wolfieskop and Silverstream has burnt twice between the years 2000 and 2013. Natural fire cycles occur at 15 to 20 year intervals, however this species range occurs in an area where frequent ignition events are causing too frequent fire return intervals. Lastly this species is susceptible to Phytophthora infection, the degree to which mortality as a result of Phytophthora has occurred can not be established due to lack of repeat monitoring data. |
Population |
It is known from two subpopulations, one that occurs between Wolfieskop and Silverstream on the western portion of the Riviersonderend Mountains, consisted of nearly 1000 plants during the monitoring by the Protea Atlas Project that took place between 1996 and 2002. It has not been recently monitored and the stand at Silverstream consisting of around 100 plants is badly infested with invasive alien plants.
A second subpopulation at Houwhoek historically spread over an area of 5 km, over 70% of this area has been invaded by woody alien species, and this species has been lost from this portion. Only one stand of 30 plants remains at the top of one Baviaanskrantz hill. The overall population is expected to be declining. Furthermore with 98% of the population occurring at Wolfieskop and Silverstream subpopulation in an area easily impacted by the same fires, the population is suspected to fluctuate in response to fire regularity and seasonality.
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Population trend | Decreasing |
Conservation |
| One plant has been found in the Riviersonderend Nature Reserve, and one plant in the Houwhoek Nature Reserve. |
Assessment History |
Taxon assessed |
Status and Criteria |
Citation/Red List version | | Paranomus adiantifolius Salisb. ex Knight | EN B1ac(iv)+2ac(iv) | Raimondo et al. (2009) | | Paranomus adiantifolius Salisb. ex Knight | Rare | Hilton-Taylor (1996) | | Paranomus adiantifolius Salisb. ex Knight | Rare | 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.
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.
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Citation |
| Rebelo, A.G., Raimondo, D., von Staden, L. & Helme, N.A. 2020. Paranomus adiantifolius Salisb. ex Knight. National Assessment: Red List of South African Plants version . Accessed on 2025/05/20 |
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