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Scientific Name | Encephalartos princeps R.A.Dyer |
Higher Classification | Gymnosperms |
Family | ZAMIACEAE |
Common Names | Broodboom (a), Cycad (e), Kei Cycad (e), Kei-broodboom (a), Umguza (x), Umphanga (x) |
National Status |
Status and Criteria | Vulnerable A4acd; B1ab(iii,v) |
Assessment Date | 2020/05/26 |
Assessor(s) | J.D. Bösenberg & J.S. Donaldson |
Justification | This species is assessed as Vulnerbale. Ongoing declines due to collecting and habitat loss are thought to exceed 30% over a time period including the past 30/40 years and the next 100 years and this means it qualifies under criterion A. The area is heavily infested by the invasive plant Lantana camara and control measures may impact on the cycad population. The extent of occurrence is small (1,917 km²), the species is known from six locations and there is continuing decline, hence qualifies as Vulnerable under criterion B too. |
Distribution |
Endemism | South African endemic |
Provincial distribution | Eastern Cape |
Range | It occurs in the catchment area of the Black Kei, the Great Kei and the Kubusi rivers in the Cathcart, Stutterheim and Komga areas of the Eastern Cape Province, South Africa. It occurs at an altitude of 200 to 800 m. |
Habitat and Ecology |
Major system | Terrestrial |
Major habitats | Eastern Valley Bushveld |
Description | This species occurs mainly on dolerite cliffs and rocky outcrops along river valleys. Plants grow in arid areas in vegetation characterized by thick low succulent shrubland and grass. |
Threats |
| It is threatened due to the illegal collecting of plants in the wild and as a result of habitat destruction due to expanding agricultural activities. In some populations, alien invasive plants (Lantana camara) are invading the habitat |
Population |
The population is thought to number between 3,500 and 5,000 mature individuals and is declining. Encephalartos princeps used to be plentiful in the catchments areas and tributaries of the Great Kei River. Most accessible plants have long since vanished. Viable subpopulations are still to be found in remote areas where concerned landowners protect the plants (Tait 2010). The subpopulations need to be re-surveyed urgently to determine the state of decline in population numbers.
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Population trend | Decreasing |
Assessment History |
Taxon assessed |
Status and Criteria |
Citation/Red List version | | Encephalartos princeps R.A.Dyer | VU A4acd; C1 | Raimondo et al. (2009) | | Encephalartos princeps R.A.Dyer | Vulnerable | Hilton-Taylor (1996) | | Encephalartos princeps R.A.Dyer | Vulnerable | Hall et al. (1980) | |
Bibliography |
Boon, R. 2010. Pooley's Trees of eastern South Africa. Flora and Fauna Publications Trust, Durban.
Donaldson, J.S. 2003. Cycads. Status survey and conservation action plan. IUCN/SSC Cycad Specialist Group, Gland, Switzerland; Cambridge, UK.
Grobbelaar, N. 2003. Cycads. With special reference to the southern African species. (2nd ed.). Nat Grobbelaar, Pretoria.
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. 1990. Focus on Encephalartos princeps. Encephalartos 24:3-7.
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.
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Citation |
| Bösenberg, J.D. & Donaldson, J.S. 2020. Encephalartos princeps R.A.Dyer. National Assessment: Red List of South African Plants version . Accessed on 2025/06/29 |
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