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Scientific Name | Encephalartos ferox G.Bertol. |
Higher Classification | Gymnosperms |
Family | ZAMIACEAE |
Synonyms | Encephalartos kosiensis Hutch. |
Common Names | Broodboom (a), Cycad (e), Maputaland Cycad (e), Maputaland-broodboom (a), Tongaland Cycad (e), Tongaland-broodboom (a), Utobani (z), Zululand Cycad (e) |
National Status |
Status and Criteria | Near Threatened A4cd |
Assessment Date | 2020/09/16 |
Assessor(s) | J.S. Donaldson, H. Matimele, D. Raimondo, S. Bandeira, J.E. Burrows, I. Darbyshire, A.O. Massingue & J.R. Timberlake |
Justification | A widespread species occurring in northern KwaZulu-Natal Province of South Africa from north of Richards Bay in the vicinity of Lake St. Lucia northwards into southern Mozambique. This widespread and common species is declining due to increasing collecting pressure as well as habitat destruction and population reduction is projected to be nearing 30% within three generations (generation length 30 years). It is therefore listed as Near Threatened. |
Distribution |
Endemism | Not endemic to South Africa |
Provincial distribution | KwaZulu-Natal |
Range | This species occurs in the northern KwaZulu-Natal Province of South Africa from north of Richards Bay in the vicinity of Lake St. Lucia northwards into southern Mozambique. |
Habitat and Ecology |
Major system | Terrestrial |
Major habitats | Forest, Indian Ocean Coastal Belt |
Description | Its habitats ranges from closed evergreen coastal forest to dense shrubland, and also on the deep sands of old beach dune systems and in dune grassland areas. |
Threats |
| The major threats affecting this species include over-collecting for ornamental purposes and habitat destruction due to current and future coastal developments and for agricultural purposes. A high burning frequency of grassland habitats also destroys many seedlings. |
Population |
Encephalartos ferox is a relatively abundant species where it occurs. Although population surveys have not been conducted to assess numbers, the population probably exceeds 10,000 mature plants. Despite this abundance, there have been declines in several locations, notably along the Mozambique coastline where plants have been removed for coastal developments (Rousseau et al. 2015) and for sale along roadsides. Due to the combination of illegal collecting and habitat destruction it is estimated that population reduction is nearing 30% within three generations (generation length 30 years).
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Population trend | Decreasing |
Conservation |
| Populations are present in a number of nature reserves in northern KwaZulu-Natal. |
Assessment History |
Taxon assessed |
Status and Criteria |
Citation/Red List version | | Encephalartos ferox G.Bertol. | Least Concern | 2011.1 | | Encephalartos ferox G.Bertol. | Least Concern | Raimondo et al. (2009) | | Encephalartos ferox G.Bertol. | Lower Risk - Conservation Dependent | Scott-Shaw (1999) | | Encephalartos ferox G.Bertol. | Vulnerable | Hilton-Taylor (1996) | | Encephalartos ferox G.Bertol. | Vulnerable | Hall et al. (1980) | |
Bibliography |
Boon, R. 2010. Pooley's Trees of eastern South Africa. Flora and Fauna Publications Trust, Durban.
Coates Palgrave, K. 1977. Trees of Southern Africa. Struik Publishers, Cape Town.
Hall, A.V., De Winter, M., De Winter, B. and Van Oosterhout, S.A.M. 1980. Threatened plants of southern Africa. South African National Scienctific Programmes Report 45. CSIR, Pretoria.
Hilton-Taylor, C. 1996. Red data list of southern African plants. Strelitzia 4. South African National Botanical Institute, Pretoria.
Osborne, R. 1987. Focus on Encephalartos ghellincki. Encephalartos 12:16-23.
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.
Scott-Shaw, C.R. 1999. Rare and threatened plants of KwaZulu-Natal and neighbouring regions. KwaZulu-Natal Nature Conservation Service, Pietermaritzburg.
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Citation |
| Donaldson, J.S., Matimele, H., Raimondo, D., Bandeira, S., Burrows, J.E., Darbyshire, I., Massingue, A.O. & Timberlake, J.R. 2020. Encephalartos ferox G.Bertol. National Assessment: Red List of South African Plants version . Accessed on 2025/05/12 |
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