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Scientific Name | Spatalla caudata (Thunb.) R.Br. |
Higher Classification | Dicotyledons |
Family | PROTEACEAE |
Synonyms | Spatallopsis caudata (Thunb.) E.Phillips, Spatallopsis caudiflora (Salisb. ex Knight) E.Phillips, Spatallopsis ericaefolia (Salisb. ex Knight) E.Phillips |
Common Names | Woolly-hair Spoon (e) |
National Status |
Status and Criteria | Endangered B1ab(iii,v)+2ab(iii,v) |
Assessment Date | 2020/05/04 |
Assessor(s) | A.G. Rebelo, H. Mtshali & L. von Staden |
Justification | Spatalla caudata has a limited distribution range, with an extent of occurrence (EOO) of 4374 km², and an area of occupancy (AOO) of 232-252 km². The population of this local endemic is severely fragmented, and there is continuing decline due to ongoing habitat degradation and drought related mortality. Therefore it is assessed as Endangered under criterion B. |
Distribution |
Endemism | South African endemic |
Provincial distribution | Western Cape |
Range | This species has a limited distribution range in the Cederberg and Hex River Mountains, in the Western Cape Province of South Africa. |
Habitat and Ecology |
Major system | Terrestrial |
Major habitats | North Hex Sandstone Fynbos, Winterhoek Sandstone Fynbos, Cederberg Sandstone Fynbos, Swartruggens Quartzite Fynbos, Kouebokkeveld Alluvium Fynbos |
Description | It grows in seeps of sandstone fynbos on deep peaty soils. 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 |
| About 10% of this species' habitat is irreversibly modified, due to historical habitat loss to fruit orchards and rooibos tea plantations. There is ongoing, slow habitat loss, and a combination of climate change and habitat loss models predicted that this species could decline by more than 50% by 2025 (Bomhard et al. 2005). No such drastic reductions have been observed, even though the species predominantly occurs along streams and seeps that are suited to cultivation, and the overall rate of habitat loss recorded between 1990 and 2014 is 1%.
However, surveys over the past 29 years indicate up to 30% mortality in some subpopulations, attributed to drought.
Recent observations indicate that subpopulations in Cederberg and Groot- Winterhoek are threatened by competition from spreading, unmanaged alien invasive plants.
The potential threats to this species include wetland drainage due to erosion by road-derived runoff and drainage modification. |
Population |
The population of this species is severely fragments as it occurs as small isolated stands over a 130 km-long range. There are insufficient historical data to ascertain if any subpopulations have disappeared. The population is decreasing due to habitat degradation and drought related mortality.
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Population trend | Decreasing |
Conservation |
| It is present in the Cedarberg and Ceres Mountain Fynbos nature reserves, with the small form occurring in the Groot Winterhoek Nature Reserve. |
Assessment History |
Taxon assessed |
Status and Criteria |
Citation/Red List version | | Spatalla caudata (Thunb.) R.Br. | EN A3c | Raimondo et al. (2009) | |
Bibliography |
Bomhard, B., Richardson, D.M., Donaldson, J.S., Hughes, G.O., Midgley, G.F., Raimondo, D.C., Rebelo, A.G., Rouget, M. and Thuiller, W. 2005. Potential impacts of future land use and climate change on the Red List status of the Proteaceae in the Cape Floristic Region, South Africa. Global Change Biology 11(9):1452-1468.
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 caudata (Thunb.) R.Br. National Assessment: Red List of South African Plants version . Accessed on 2025/01/18 |
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