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Scientific Name | Mimetes chrysanthus Rourke |
Higher Classification | Dicotyledons |
Family | PROTEACEAE |
Common Names | Golden Pagoda (e) |
National Status |
Status and Criteria | Vulnerable D2 |
Assessment Date | 2020/03/18 |
Assessor(s) | A.G. Rebelo & H. Mtshali |
Justification | Mimetes chrysanthus is known from three locations, and is potentially threatened by too frequent fires and competition from alien invasive plants, which are already present in low densities at two of these. It therefore qualifies as Vulnerable under criterion D. |
Distribution |
Endemism | South African endemic |
Provincial distribution | Western Cape |
Range | This species is endemic to the Gamka and Perdeberg mountains, in the Western Cape Province of South Africa. |
Habitat and Ecology |
Major system | Terrestrial |
Major habitats | South Rooiberg Sandstone Fynbos, North Rooiberg Sandstone Fynbos, North Outeniqua Sandstone Fynbos |
Description | It grows on steep south-east facing sandstone slopes, at an altitude of 800-1400 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 bees and birds. |
Threats |
| Alien invasive plants have been observed in low densities at two areas where this species is found. If these are not controlled, they are likely to increase in density and eventually outcompete this species. As a reseeder M. chrysanthus is potentially vulnerable to local extinction if fires occur repeatedly before plants reach reproductive maturity. |
Population |
Mimetes chrysanthus is rare, it is known from several isolated patches of few dozen pants each. Currently it is known from nine subpopulations, occurring at three locations, the majority of these are small, and the largest has ±14 000 plants. There is no significant ongoing population decline.
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Population trend | Stable |
Conservation |
| The species' entire distribution falls within a provincial nature reserve, Gamka Mountain Nature Reserve. |
Assessment History |
Taxon assessed |
Status and Criteria |
Citation/Red List version | | Mimetes chrysanthus Rourke | VU D2 | Raimondo et al. (2009) | | Mimetes chrysanthus Rourke | Rare | 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.
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Citation |
| Rebelo, A.G. & Mtshali, H. 2020. Mimetes chrysanthus Rourke. National Assessment: Red List of South African Plants version . Accessed on 2025/05/12 |
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