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Scientific Name | Spatalla ericoides E.Phillips |
Higher Classification | Dicotyledons |
Family | PROTEACEAE |
Common Names | Erica-leaf Spoon (e) |
National Status |
Status and Criteria | Endangered B1ab(iii,v)+2ab(iii,v) |
Assessment Date | 2020/05/04 |
Assessor(s) | A.G. Rebelo, H. Mtshali & L. von Staden |
Justification | Spatalla ericoides has a limited distribution range in South Africa, with an extent of occurrence (EOO) of 157 km², and an area of occupancy (AOO) of 56 km². It is known from five locations. The population is threatened by ongoing decline of quality of habitat due to increasing densities of alien invasive plants. Population decline is inferred from habitat degradation. It is therefore listed as Endangered under criterion B. |
Distribution |
Endemism | South African endemic |
Provincial distribution | Western Cape |
Range | This species has a limited distribution range in the western parts of the Agulhas Plain, in the Western Cape Province, South Africa. |
Habitat and Ecology |
Major system | Terrestrial |
Major habitats | Overberg Sandstone Fynbos, Agulhas Limestone Fynbos, Agulhas Sand Fynbos |
Description | It occurs in sand fynbos associated with limestone outcrops, at 10-250 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 |
| A very small proportion (14%) of this species' habitat has been lost to strip ploughing for protea orchards, but there is no significant ongoing habitat loss. More concerning is the fact that at least 20% of remaining limestone fynbos is infested with alien invasive plants (Acacia, Leptospermum and Eucalyptus), that are outcompeting native species both inside and outside protected areas.
Another potential threat is fire-related population fluctuations due to inappropiate fire management. |
Population |
The majority of subpopulations are small. Only three subpopulations consist of over 250 plants. The total known population consists of 471-3097 mature individuals, however there is insufficient trend data to know how much the population has declined over the past three generations, meaning that this species cannot be assessed under criterion C. A continuing decline is inferred from dense alien invasive plant infestations in parts of its range. Over most of its habitat, alien plant densities are still low, but if these are not controlled, they are likely to outcompete this species in future.
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Population trend | Decreasing |
Conservation |
| One of this species' locations at Groot Hagelkraal was bought by ESKOM for a nuclear power plant and is being managed as a nature reserve: Groot Hagelkraal Private Nature Reserve. |
Notes |
| This species is a very inconspicuous plant, which is easily missed, and becoming almost impossible to see in older vegetation as plants senesce and die and become overgrown. |
Assessment History |
Taxon assessed |
Status and Criteria |
Citation/Red List version | | Spatalla ericoides E.Phillips | EN B1ab(iii,v)+2ab(iii,v) | Raimondo et al. (2009) | | Spatalla ericoides E.Phillips | Vulnerable | Hilton-Taylor (1996) | | Spatalla ericoides E.Phillips | Vulnerable | 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.
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. & von Staden, L. 2020. Spatalla ericoides E.Phillips. National Assessment: Red List of South African Plants version . Accessed on 2025/01/21 |
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