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Scientific Name | Spatalla nubicola Rourke |
Higher Classification | Dicotyledons |
Family | PROTEACEAE |
Common Names | Medusa Spoon (e) |
National Status |
Status and Criteria | Vulnerable D2 |
Assessment Date | 2020/04/20 |
Assessor(s) | A.G. Rebelo, H. Mtshali & L. von Staden |
Justification | Spatalla nubicola is an endemic to the Langeberg Mountains in the Western Cape Province, South Africa. It is known from between two and three locations, and is potentially threatened by competition from alien invasive plants, which are already present in low densities across its range. It is therefore listed as Vulnerable under criterion D. |
Distribution |
Endemism | South African endemic |
Provincial distribution | Western Cape |
Range | This species is confined to the Langeberg Mountains near the town of Heidelberg, in the Western Cape Province of South Africa. |
Habitat and Ecology |
Major system | Terrestrial |
Major habitats | South Langeberg Sandstone Fynbos |
Description | It occurs in peaty soils on upper, steep, south-facing sandstone slopes, at 900-1600 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 |
| Spatalla nubicola is known from 2-3 geographically isolated areas. All of its habitat is formally protected, but only one of the four areas is managed by CapeNature, the local conservation authority. Alien invasive plants have been observed in low densities at all of these areas. If these are not controlled, they are likely to increase in density and eventually outcompete native species. Field observations also noted too frequent fire as a potential threat around Grootberg. As a reseeder, S. nubicola is potentially vulnerable to local extinction if fires occur repeatedly before plants reach reproductive maturity. |
Population |
This species is a rare endemic known from 11 subpopulations that are naturally fragmented. The population is not declining, however spreading alien invasive plants and too frequent fires in parts of its range could lead to future decline if not managed.
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Population trend | Stable |
Conservation |
| It is confined to the Boosmansbos Nature Reserve. |
Assessment History |
Taxon assessed |
Status and Criteria |
Citation/Red List version | | Spatalla nubicola Rourke | NT D2 | Raimondo et al. (2009) | | Spatalla nubicola Rourke | Rare | Hilton-Taylor (1996) | | Spatalla nubicola Rourke | 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., 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., Mtshali, H. & von Staden, L. 2020. Spatalla nubicola Rourke. National Assessment: Red List of South African Plants version . Accessed on 2024/12/08 |
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