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Scientific Name | Mimetes splendidus Salisb. ex Knight |
Higher Classification | Dicotyledons |
Family | PROTEACEAE |
Synonyms | Mimetes integrus Hutch. |
Common Names | Splendid Pagoda (e) |
National Status |
Status and Criteria | Endangered B1ab(iii,v)+2ab(iii,v); C2a(i) |
Assessment Date | 2020/06/02 |
Assessor(s) | A.G. Rebelo, D. Raimondo & L. von Staden |
Justification | Mimetes splendidus is a species that occurs as 16 naturally fragmented subpopulations over a 300 km chain of mountains in the southern Cape region of South Africa. It has an extent of occurrence (EOO) of 3122 km² and an area of occupancy (AOO) of between 156 and 160 km². The total population numbers between 250 and 350 mature individuals and no subpopulation has more than 100 mature individuals. Decline due to invasive alien plant invasions and too frequent fire is ongoing. This species therefore qualifies as Endangered under criteria B and C. |
Distribution |
Endemism | South African endemic |
Provincial distribution | Eastern Cape, Western Cape |
Range | This species is known from Langeberg to Tsitsikamma Mountains, in the Fynbos Biome of South Africa. |
Habitat and Ecology |
Major system | Terrestrial |
Major habitats | Tsitsikamma Sandstone Fynbos, South Outeniqua Sandstone Fynbos, South Langeberg Sandstone Fynbos |
Description | It occurs on moist, south-facing slopes with peaty soils, occurring at altitudes of between 600 and 1200 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 by rodents and germinate following fire. This species has underground seedbanks and all seeds do not germinate in one fire. Seedbanks are suspected to be long lived, however plants are slow to mature and hence remain susceptible to short fire return intervals. It is pollinated by birds. |
Threats |
| M. splendidus is a slow maturer that tends to occur in fire refugia this coupled with most subpopulations being small (fewer than 20 plants) means that it is vulnerable to incorrect fire season or fire return intervals. Two subpopulations were recorded to not regenerate in the 1980s (Hall and Veldhuis, 1985). A further three have been lost since 1991. Remaining subpopulations are further threatened by woody invasive alien plants (pines and hakeas). |
Population |
The population consists of 16 isolated severely fragmented small subpopulations typically each consisting of fewer than 20 plants. The stronghold for this species is the Witfontein location below George Peak on the Outeniqua Mountains, here there are four subpopulations one of which has between 50 and 100 plants and the other three number between 20 and 50 plants. All other subpopulations which are scattered along a 300 km range of mountains are small. Three subpopulations have been lost in the past 20 years. The population is suspected to be experiencing ongoing decline.
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Population trend | Decreasing |
Conservation |
| It it conserved in Marloth, Boosmansbos, Doring River, Witfontein, Millwood and Lottering Nature Reserves, and Blomberg Private Nature Reserve. |
Assessment History |
Taxon assessed |
Status and Criteria |
Citation/Red List version | | Mimetes splendidus Salisb. ex Knight | EN B1ab(i,ii)c(iv)+2ab(i,ii)c(iv); C2a(i)b | Raimondo et al. (2009) | | Mimetes splendidus Salisb. ex Knight | Rare | Hilton-Taylor (1996) | | Mimetes splendidus 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. and Veldhuis, R.N.J. 1985. South Arican red data book: Plants - Fynbos and Karoo biomes. South African National Scientific Programmes Report 117. CSIR, Pretoria.
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. 2020. Mimetes splendidus Salisb. ex Knight. National Assessment: Red List of South African Plants version . Accessed on 2025/05/17 |
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