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Scientific Name | Diastella divaricata (P.J.Bergius) Rourke subsp. montana Rourke |
Higher Classification | Dicotyledons |
Family | PROTEACEAE |
Synonyms | Diastella serpyllifolia Salisb. ex Knight |
Common Names | Mountain Silkypuff (e) |
National Status |
Status and Criteria | Least Concern |
Assessment Date | 2020/02/11 |
Assessor(s) | A.G. Rebelo, H. Mtshali & L. von Staden |
Justification | Diastella divaricata subsp. montana has a restricted range, with an extent of occurrence (EOO) of 2420 km². It is however highly abundant, and known from more than 100 subpopulations. Some of these are threatened by competition from alien invasive plants, but it is not yet in danger of extinction. It is therefore assessed as Least Concern. |
Distribution |
Endemism | South African endemic |
Provincial distribution | Western Cape |
Range | This taxon is endemic to the mountains of the Western Cape, where it occurs from the Wemmershoek Mountains to Villiersdorp and western Riviersonderend Mountains, extending to the Hottentots-Holland, Groenland and Kleinrivier mountains. |
Habitat and Ecology |
Major system | Terrestrial |
Major habitats | North Sonderend Sandstone Fynbos, Overberg Sandstone Fynbos, Kogelberg Sandstone Fynbos, Hawequas Sandstone Fynbos |
Description | It prefers cool, moist, south-facing slopes and lowland seeps, 100-1200 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 |
| About 10% of this subspecies' habitat was lost to timber plantations in the past. There is no longer any significant expansion of plantations, and therefore it is not an ongoing threat. More concerning is the rapid spread of invasive escaped pine seedlings from timber plantations into native fynbos vegetation. When escaped pines mature and increase in density, they outcompete native species, leading to rapid declines. Invasive pines are known to be spreading in to this taxon's habitat in the mountains around Franschhoek, the Groenlandberg, Riviersonderend Mountains, and Babilonstoring Mountains. |
Population |
This taxon is abundant throughout its range. Protea Atlas Project surveys recorded more than 100 subpopulations. The current population trend is not known.
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Population trend | Unknown |
Assessment History |
Taxon assessed |
Status and Criteria |
Citation/Red List version | | Diastella divaricata (P.J.Bergius) Rourke subsp. montana Rourke | LC | 2020.1 | | Diastella divaricata (P.J.Bergius) Rourke subsp. montana Rourke | VU A2c | Raimondo et al. (2009) | |
Bibliography |
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. Diastella divaricata (P.J.Bergius) Rourke subsp. montana Rourke. National Assessment: Red List of South African Plants version . Accessed on 2025/05/19 |
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