|
Scientific Name | Encephalartos friderici-guilielmi Lehm. |
Higher Classification | Gymnosperms |
Family | ZAMIACEAE |
Common Names | Broodboom (a), Cycad (e), Umguza (x), Umphanga (x), White-haired Cycad (e), Withaar-broodboom (a) |
National Status |
Status and Criteria | Near Threatened A2ac+4ac |
Assessment Date | 2020/05/26 |
Assessor(s) | J.D. Bösenberg |
Justification | Although widespread and relatively abundant, subpopulations have declined in the past 90 years. Based on repeat photographs, this decline is estimated to be as high as 15-25%. This is only just over one generation, but further extrapolation backwards is difficult, so this is treated as the minimum population reduction. If declines increase, it could qualify for a Vulnerable listing under criterion A. |
Distribution |
Endemism | South African endemic |
Provincial distribution | Eastern Cape, KwaZulu-Natal |
Range | This species occurs in the Eastern Cape and KwaZulu-Natal provinces of South Africa. The main distribution area is in the Cathcart and Queenstown districts. Smaller subpopulations occur to the north of Umtata and in the vicinity of Kokstad on the border between the Eastern Cape and KwaZulu-Natal Provinces. |
Habitat and Ecology |
Major system | Terrestrial |
Major habitats | Bhisho Thornveld, Eastern Valley Bushveld, Queenstown Thornveld, Tsomo Grassland, Amathole Montane Grassland |
Description | This species occurs in montane grassland and open shrubland on rocky ridges, at 700 to 1,400 m. |
Threats |
| This species is threatened due to over-collecting for ornamental purposes and as a result of traditional muthi (medicine) harvesting which is still ongoing. Considerable mortality was noted in the subpopulations near Kokstad. It is unsure what is causing this (D. Ricketts. pers. comm. 2011). |
Population |
This is a relatively abundant species. There has been no recent revision to the population estimate for this species. However, one subpopulation occurring near Tsolo in the Eastern Cape has been killed off through persistent harvesting of stem fragments for medicinal purposes and another subpopulation near Kokstad has been showing a persistent decline for unknown reasons. These represent entire locations with implications for the reduction in known subpopulations, EOO and AOO. The overall decline is still estimated to be less than 30% over three generations.
|
Population trend | Decreasing |
Conservation |
| Plants are found in two nature reserves. |
Assessment History |
Taxon assessed |
Status and Criteria |
Citation/Red List version | | Encephalartos friderici-guilielmi Lehm. | VU C1 | 2011.1 | | Encephalartos friderici-guilielmi Lehm. | VU C1 | Raimondo et al. (2009) | | Encephalartos friderici-guilielmi Lehm. | VU B1B2abcde | Scott-Shaw (1999) | | Encephalartos friderici-guilielmi Lehm. | Vulnerable | Hilton-Taylor (1996) | | Encephalartos friderici-guilielmi Lehm. | Rare | Hall et al. (1980) | |
Bibliography |
Boon, R. 2010. Pooley's Trees of eastern South Africa. Flora and Fauna Publications Trust, Durban.
Cousins, S.R., Williams, V.L. and Witkowski, E.T.F. 2012. Uncovering the cycad taxa (Encephalartos species) traded for traditional medicine in Johannesburg and Durban, South Africa. South African Journal of Botany 78:129-138.
Donaldson, J.S. 2003. Cycads. Status survey and conservation action plan. IUCN/SSC Cycad Specialist Group, Gland, Switzerland; Cambridge, UK.
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.
Kemp, M. 1989. Focus on Encephalartos friderici-guilielmi. Encephalartos 18:4-9.
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.
|
Citation |
| Bösenberg, J.D. 2020. Encephalartos friderici-guilielmi Lehm. National Assessment: Red List of South African Plants version . Accessed on 2025/05/14 |
Comment on this assessment
