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Scientific Name | Spatalla thyrsiflora Salisb. ex Knight |
Higher Classification | Dicotyledons |
Family | PROTEACEAE |
Synonyms | Sorocephalus spatalloides R.Br. |
Common Names | Swan-neck Spoon (e) |
National Status |
Status and Criteria | Vulnerable D2 |
Assessment Date | 2020/04/28 |
Assessor(s) | A.G. Rebelo, H. Mtshali & L. von Staden |
Justification | Spatalla thyrsiflora is a range restricted species to the Du Toit's Kloof mountains in South Africa. It is known from five locations, and is potentially threatened by competition from alien invasive plants, which are already present in low densities at three of these locations. As the population is currently stable it is assessed as Vulnerable under criterion D. |
Distribution |
Endemism | South African endemic |
Provincial distribution | Western Cape |
Range | This species is endemic to the Western Cape Province, South Africa where it occurs in the Du Toit's Kloof Mountains. It historically also occurred on the Caledon Swartberg but has not been recorded there for over 100 years. |
Habitat and Ecology |
Major system | Terrestrial |
Major habitats | Elgin Shale Fynbos, Boland Granite Fynbos, Western Coastal Shale Band Vegetation |
Description | It occurs in moist, rocky sandstone and granite slopes usually south-facing at high altitude. It is a long-lived species, and survives fires by resprouting from underground boles or rootstocks. 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 thyrsiflora is known from five geographically isolated areas. All of the remaining subpopulations are formally protected. Alien invasive plants have been observed in low densities at three areas. If these are not controlled, they are likely to increase in density and eventually outcompete native species, particularly at Louwshoek. |
Population |
This species is known from a 23 km range, where it occurs as a dense, isolated population of fewer than 2500 plants each. It has been recorded from six subpopulations that are fragmented. One of the subpopulations from the Caledon Swartberg has gone extinct since it has not been re-located despite extensive searches over a 100 year period. All five remaining subpopulations are formally protected, and are potentially threatened by invasion of habitat by alien plants. The population is currently not declining.
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Population trend | Stable |
Conservation |
| It occurs within the Hawequas and Theewaters nature reserves. |
Assessment History |
Taxon assessed |
Status and Criteria |
Citation/Red List version | | Spatalla thyrsiflora Salisb. ex Knight | VU D2 | 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. 2020. Spatalla thyrsiflora Salisb. ex Knight. National Assessment: Red List of South African Plants version . Accessed on 2025/01/21 |
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