Powder Sceptre

Taxonomy
Scientific Name
Paranomus candicans (Thunb.) Kuntze
Higher Classification
Dicotyledons
Family
PROTEACEAE
Synonyms
Nivenia mollissima R.Br.
Common Names
Powder 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 candicans has a restricted distribution range, with an Extent of Occurrence of 1362 km². It has no severe threats, and is therefore not suspected to be in danger of extinction.
Distribution
Endemism
South African endemic
Provincial distribution
Western Cape
Range
Paranomus candicans has a limited distribution range in the mountains on the western border of the Little Karoo, Western Cape. It occurs in isolated subpopulations in the Hex River, Keeromsberg and Langeberg mountains east of Montagu.
Habitat and Ecology
Major system
Terrestrial
Major habitats
South Hex Sandstone Fynbos, North Hex Sandstone Fynbos, South Langeberg Sandstone Fynbos, North Langeberg Sandstone Fynbos
Description
It occurs on slopes in sandstone fynbos, 500-1450 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
There are no severe threats to this species.
Population

An isolated subpopulation of several hundred individuals occur on the north-eastern footslopes of the Hex River Mountains. Two to five subpopulations occur in the Keeromsberg, where there are at least 500 individuals, possibly several thousand. In the Langeberg it occurs in small, scattered subpopulations across a 50 km stretch of continuous habitat. The population is naturally fragmented due to very limited dispersal - ants are known to carry seeds for only a few meters - but not more than 50% of individuals are in small and isolated subpopulations. As there are no severe threats to this species, the population is assumed to be stable.


Population trend
Stable
Assessment History
Taxon assessed
Status and Criteria
Citation/Red List version
Paranomus candicans (Thunb.) KuntzeLeast 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.


Citation
Rebelo, A.G., Mtshali, H. & von Staden, L. 2019. Paranomus candicans (Thunb.) Kuntze. National Assessment: Red List of South African Plants version . Accessed on 2025/07/09

Comment on this assessment Comment on this assessment
Distribution map


Search for images of Paranomus candicans on iNaturalist