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Scientific Name | Spatalla squamata Meisn. |
Higher Classification | Dicotyledons |
Family | PROTEACEAE |
Common Names | Silky Spoon (e) |
National Status |
Status and Criteria | Near Threatened B1ab(ii,iii,iv,v)+2ab(ii,iii,iv,v) |
Assessment Date | 2020/07/06 |
Assessor(s) | A.G. Rebelo, H. Mtshali & L. von Staden |
Justification | Spatalla squamata is a range-restricted species in the Western Cape Province, South Africa, with an extent of occurrence (EOO) of 681 km², and an area of occupancy (AOO) of 172 km². It is fairly common in the southern parts of its range, and it is known from between 10 and 12 locations. It is threatened by competition from alien invasive plants, and it is harvested for the cut flower industry. Therefore it nearly meets the threshold for Vulnerable under criterion B. |
Distribution |
Endemism | South African endemic |
Provincial distribution | Western Cape |
Range | This species is known from a small area in the Western Cape Province of South Africa, where it occurs in the Bredasdorp Mountains and on the Agulhas coast. |
Habitat and Ecology |
Major system | Terrestrial |
Major habitats | Overberg Sandstone Fynbos, Agulhas Sand Fynbos |
Description | It occurs on sandy flats and slopes, often between limestone ridges, at lower elevations. 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 |
| At least 15% of this species' habitat is irreversibly modified, predominantly due to protea orchards, vineyards, and cereal crop cultivation. This loss is largely historical, with very low levels of ongoing loss recorded in recent years (2% loss between 1990 and 2014).
Although Privett et al. (2005) list it as not harvested, it is commonly found as a filler in retailed protea bunches (Rebelo, pers. obs.). It is threatened by competition from alien invasive plants, particularly Acacia, Eucalyptus, Pinus and Hakea species. |
Population |
Plants occur as scattered individuals. There are large extensive subpopulations on the Soetanysberg (Agulhas National Park) and on the Koudeberg and their surrounds, the other occurrences being isolated patches of relatively few plants. Decline to the population is taking place as a result of habitat degradation from alien invasive species and harvesting. Furthermore, slow habitat loss is also ongoing.
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Population trend | Decreasing |
Conservation |
| It is found in the Rietfontein and Brandfontein Private nature reserves. Work on the vulnerability of different Fynbos species to harvesting note that this species is vulnerable and should not be harvested (Privett et al. 2005). |
Assessment History |
Taxon assessed |
Status and Criteria |
Citation/Red List version | | Spatalla squamata Meisn. | NT A2c | 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.
Privett, S., Bailey, R., Raimondo, D., Kirkwood, D. and Euston-Brown, D. 2005. A vulnerability index for rare and harvested plant species on the Agulhas Plain. Flower Valley Conservation Trust.
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 squamata Meisn. National Assessment: Red List of South African Plants version . Accessed on 2025/01/18 |
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