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Scientific Name | Spatalla incurva (Thunb.) R.Br. |
Higher Classification | Dicotyledons |
Family | PROTEACEAE |
Synonyms | Spatalla mucronifolia E.Phillips, Spatalla procera Salisb. ex Knight, Spatalla wallichii E.Phillips |
Common Names | Swan-head Spoon (e), Wolbos (a) |
National Status |
Status and Criteria | Least Concern |
Assessment Date | 2019/04/15 |
Assessor(s) | A.G. Rebelo, H. Mtshali & L. von Staden |
Justification | Spatalla incurva is endemic to the mountains of the Western Cape Province in South Africa. It is a widespread, common species, known from many locations. Although there is ongoing habitat degradation due to invasion by alien plants, this species is not yet in danger of extinction. Therefore it is assessed as Least Concern. |
Distribution |
Endemism | South African endemic |
Provincial distribution | Western Cape |
Range | This species is endemic to the mountains of the Western Cape Province, South Africa, where it occurs from the Cederberg to Du Toit's Kloof Mountains and Keeromsberg. It has an extent of occurrence (EOO) of 7301 km². |
Habitat and Ecology |
Major system | Terrestrial |
Major habitats | South Hex Sandstone Fynbos, North Hex Sandstone Fynbos, Winterhoek Sandstone Fynbos, Cederberg Sandstone Fynbos, Western Altimontane Sandstone Fynbos, Olifants Sandstone Fynbos, South Langeberg Sandstone Fynbos, North Langeberg Sandstone Fynbos, Hawequas Sandstone Fynbos |
Description | It grows on dry rocky sandstone fynbos, at an altitude of 800-2500 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 |
| Recent field observations indicate that alien invasive plants are present in low densities at some localities in the Cedeberg and Du Toit's Kloof mountains. If invasive plants are not cleared, they are likely to continue to spread and increase in density, eventually outcompeting native species.
Too frequent fires, which can result in local extinctions of reseeders when plants are killed before they are reproductively mature, has also been noted as a potential threat at some localities. |
Population |
This species is common, frequently encountered and well conserved. It is known from 138 subpopulations. The largest subpopulations consist of over 10 000 mature individuals. The population is stable, but likely to decline if alien invasive plants remain unmanaged.
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Population trend | Stable |
Assessment History |
Taxon assessed |
Status and Criteria |
Citation/Red List version | | Spatalla incurva (Thunb.) R.Br. | Least 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.
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. & von Staden, L. 2019. Spatalla incurva (Thunb.) R.Br. National Assessment: Red List of South African Plants version . Accessed on 2025/01/18 |
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