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Scientific Name | Encephalartos senticosus Vorster |
Higher Classification | Gymnosperms |
Family | ZAMIACEAE |
Common Names | Broodboom (a), Cycad (e), Ijubane (z), Isidwaba-somkhovu (z), Isigqiki-semkhovu (z), Isigqiki-somkhovu (z), Jozini Cycad (e), Lebombo Cycad (e), Lebombo-broodboom (a) |
National Status |
Status and Criteria | Vulnerable A2acd |
Assessment Date | 2020/05/20 |
Assessor(s) | J.D. Bösenberg |
Justification | Based on repeat photographs, Encephalartos senticosus has declined by >30% at least in parts of its range (near Sitegi in Eswatini and Mkuze in South Africa) during the past 60 years, this is less than one generation, but further extrapolation is difficult. Therefore, this is treated as a minimum population reduction and it assessed as Vulnerable. |
Distribution |
Endemism | Not endemic to South Africa |
Provincial distribution | KwaZulu-Natal |
Range | This species occurs from south of the Jozini dam in northern KwaZulu-Natal in South Africa northwards along the Lebombo mountains to just north of Siteki in Eswatini. Plants are also found on the Mozambique side of the border. It has been recorded from altitudes ranging from 300 to 700 m asl. |
Habitat and Ecology |
Major system | Terrestrial |
Major habitats | Southern Lebombo Bushveld |
Description | This species is found on rocky slopes and forest ravines or on dry exposed cliffs in dry shrubby savanna along the Lebombo range. |
Threats |
| This species is primarily threatened due to poaching of plants from the wild. Some of the decline in this species would have been due to the construction of the Jozini dam when the authorities authorised the removal of a large number of plants that would have been submerged by the dam. |
Population |
The population is thought to number between 5,000 and 10,000 mature individuals and is declining.
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Population trend | Decreasing |
Conservation |
| Plants are protected in two provincial nature reserves in KwaZulu-Natal. |
Assessment History |
Taxon assessed |
Status and Criteria |
Citation/Red List version | | Encephalartos senticosus Vorster | VU A2acd | Raimondo et al. (2009) | | Encephalartos senticosus Vorster | VU B1B2abcd | Scott-Shaw (1999) | | Encephalartos senticosus Vorster | Rare | Hilton-Taylor (1996) | |
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.
Hilton-Taylor, C. 1996. Red Data List of southern African plants. 1. Corrections and additions. Bothalia 26(2):177-182.
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 |
| Bösenberg, J.D. 2020. Encephalartos senticosus Vorster. National Assessment: Red List of South African Plants version . Accessed on 2025/05/13 |
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