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Scientific Name | Spatalla prolifera (Thunb.) Salisb. ex Knight |
Higher Classification | Dicotyledons |
Family | PROTEACEAE |
Common Names | Palmiet Spoon (e) |
National Status |
Status and Criteria | Endangered B1ab(iii,v)+2ab(iii,v) |
Assessment Date | 2020/08/19 |
Assessor(s) | A.G. Rebelo, H. Mtshali & L. von Staden |
Justification | Spatalla prolifera is a restricted endemic from the Kogelberg region, South Africa. It has an extent of occurrence (EOO) of 386 km² and area of occupancy (AOO) of 80 km². It is known from three to five locations. A small percentage of this species' habitat has been lost to infrastructure developments, mining and groundwater abstraction in the past. This species remains susceptible to too frequent fires, groundwater abstraction and Phytophthora infection. Other threats include degradation of habitat by spreading alien invasive plants and unexplained population decline. It therefore qualifies as Endangered under criteria B. |
Distribution |
Endemism | South African endemic |
Provincial distribution | Western Cape |
Range | This species has a restricted distribution in the Western Cape Province of South Africa, where it occurs from Viljoen's Pass to Kleinmond. |
Habitat and Ecology |
Major system | Terrestrial |
Major habitats | Kogelberg Sandstone Fynbos |
Description | It is confined to permanently wet peat bogs near valley floors, at 50-460 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 |
| This species has lost a total of 13% of its habitat in the past to the construction of the Steenbras and Buffelstal dams, gravel mining (koffieklip) and pine plantations. For the past 30 years the Kogelberg Nature Reserve has been well managed and there are few invasive plant species currently occurring where this species is found, however invasive plants pose a significant future potential threat as they occur abundantly in areas outside of the reserve, and constant clearing is currently undertaken to keep them out of this reserve. Alien invasive pines and hakeas are present in small stands on slopes of the Steenbras Mountains around the Steenbras Dam, and could potentially outcompete native species in the future, if left unmanaged.
Groundwater abstraction has been reported in the Kogelberg area, ongoing monitoring is needed as demand for groundwater resources increases, particularly as this wet-preferring species is likely to be sensitive to extraction. There has been unexplained mass mortality of subpopulations observed. Genetic decline is inferred.
Furthermore, this species is susceptible to too frequent fires - some parts of this species range are subjected to inappropriate fire management. Finally, this species is vulnerable to Phytophthora infection however declines due to Phytophthora are difficult to quantify due to a lack of long term monitoring data being available for the majority of the subpopulations. Based on the combined impacts of Phytophthora infections and too frequent fires this species is suspected to be experiencing slow, ongoing declines. |
Population |
This species is formerly known from a 30 km area, and currently is found within a 20 km range. It is known from between six and nine subpopulations. All the extant subpopulations occur in protected areas, although the Steenbras dam area is inadequately managed. The population is suspected to be declining at a slow rate as a result of habitat degradation at Steenbras Dam, Rooskraal and Bufflestal Dam, but is suspected to be stable in Kogelberg Nature Reserve due to good management between 1990 and 2020. However, any future neglect of ongoing management interventions required to control invasive alien plants and invasive ants, coupled with poor management of fire could rapidly lead to population declines.
The below section provides details of the subpopulations within four parts of its range.
1. Steenbras dam: In 1985 it was extinct at two locations, but has since been re-discovered adjacent the Steenbras dam. A patch of over 100 plants from 1995-1997, survived just south of the dam. Any raising of the dam wall would flood this remaining population. The subpopulation was still extant in 2020 with over 100 plants.
2. Rooskraal subpopulation is small and isolated, occurring adjacent to fruit orchards. A patch of 10-100 plants was recorded in 1996, but the current status is unknown. It is situated in a fire belt that is repeatedly burned on a short rotation out of season.
3. Buffelstal Dam (Pringle Bay): this subpopulation was partially cleared for the dam and quarry involved with armaments testing. Numbers not available. Citizen scientists found two patches between the years 1996 and 2000, the lower stand had over 100 in 2001. The upper subpopulation in 1996 had seven plants. There are no recent records of this species and it is unknown if it is still extant.
4. Oudebos subpopulation has four patches - on either side of the Palmiet River. Two patches on the south of the Palmiet River with over 100 plants from 1995-2001. Some four colonies in the north of the Palmiet River occur in discrete peat bog marshes. These marshes are formed by water discharged at the Nardouw Sandstone - Cedarberg Shale junction. These totalled a few thousand plants post fire in 1999 and are still extant in 2020.
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Population trend | Decreasing |
Conservation |
| All extant subpopulations occur in conservation areas, although the Steenbras Dam area is inadequately managed. |
Assessment History |
Taxon assessed |
Status and Criteria |
Citation/Red List version | | Spatalla prolifera (Thunb.) Salisb. ex Knight | EN B1ac(iv)+2ac(iv) | Raimondo et al. (2009) | | Spatalla prolifera (Thunb.) Salisb. ex Knight | Endangered | 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. & von Staden, L. 2020. Spatalla prolifera (Thunb.) Salisb. ex Knight. National Assessment: Red List of South African Plants version . Accessed on 2025/01/18 |
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