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Scientific Name | Mimetes fimbriifolius Salisb. ex Knight |
Higher Classification | Dicotyledons |
Family | PROTEACEAE |
Synonyms | Mimetes cucullatus (L.) R.Br. var. hartogii (R.Br.) E.Phillips, Mimetes hartogii R.Br. |
Common Names | Fringed Bottlebrush (e), Fringed Cowl Pagoda (e), Maanhaarstompie (a), Tree Pagoda (e) |
National Status |
Status and Criteria | Rare |
Assessment Date | 2019/08/14 |
Assessor(s) | A.G. Rebelo, H. Mtshali & L. von Staden |
Justification | Mimetes fimbriifolius is a highly localized endemic, with an Extent of Occurrence of 410 km². It is however common across its range, and is not declining, and is therefore not in danger of extinction. |
Distribution |
Endemism | South African endemic |
Provincial distribution | Western Cape |
Range | Mimetes fimbriifolius is endemic to the Cape Peninsula in the Western Cape. |
Habitat and Ecology |
Major system | Terrestrial |
Major habitats | Peninsula Sandstone Fynbos |
Description | It occurs on rocky slopes and flats, 0-950 m, and is endemic to Peninsula Sandstone Fynbos. Flowering starts from 6-12 years of age, with an estimated maximum age of 100 years, with death due to structural collapse. 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 birds. |
Threats |
| In the past it was collected for firewood (Rourke and Lincoln 1982) and bark was harvested for tannin (Marloth 1913). It is now locally extinct on Table Mountain, the northernmost part of its range, probably due to a combination of overharvesting and habitat loss to pine plantations. Ninety eight percent of this species' historical range is still intact, and most of it is now protected in the Table Mountain National Park. Parts of the Cape Peninsula was formerly densely invaded with alien species, which were outcompeting native species. There were extensive clearing efforts in the early 2000s, but ongoing management and clearing is needed to prevent reinvasions.
As a reseeder, it is also potentially vulnerable to too frequent fires, which is impacting many parts of the Cape Peninsula. It is however very unlikely that a large proportion of the population will be impacted by repeated fires, as the population is much more extensive than the average area burnt.
Another potential threat is invasive ant species that are displacing native ant species. Invasive ants do not perform the function of indigenous ants, which is to bury this species' seeds in their nests where they are protected from fire. Large scale ant invasions could lead to population collapse if there is no soil-stored seed bank to regenerate from post fire. |
Population |
This species is common across its range, and occurs in scattered clumps in rocky outcrops. The population is large (at least 30 000 mature individuals), and is not declining.
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Population trend | Stable |
Assessment History |
Taxon assessed |
Status and Criteria |
Citation/Red List version | | Mimetes fimbriifolius Salisb. ex Knight | Rare | 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.
Helme, N.A. and Trinder-Smith, T.H. 2006. The endemic flora of the Cape Peninsula, South Africa. South African Journal of Botany 72(2):205-210.
Marloth, R. 1913. The flora of South Africa. Darter Bros, 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.
Rourke, J.P. and Lincoln, T. 1982. Mimetes. An illustrated account of Mimetes Salisbury and Orothamnus Pappe, two notable Cape genera of the Proteaceae. Tiyan Publishers, Cape Town.
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Citation |
| Rebelo, A.G., Mtshali, H. & von Staden, L. 2019. Mimetes fimbriifolius Salisb. ex Knight. National Assessment: Red List of South African Plants version . Accessed on 2025/05/13 |
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