|
Scientific Name | Encephalartos nubimontanus P.J.H.Hurter |
Higher Classification | Gymnosperms |
Family | ZAMIACEAE |
Synonyms | Encephalartos venetus Vorster |
Common Names | Blue Cycad (e) |
National Status |
Status and Criteria | Extinct in the Wild |
Assessment Date | 2020/08/06 |
Assessor(s) | J.D. Bösenberg, S. Rodgers & D. Pillay |
Justification | This species is assessed as Extinct in the Wild (EW). It was originally known from at least 66 plants, but only 8 were counted in a 2001 survey and none could be found in a 2004 survey despite very careful searching. The species is popular with collectors and there has been much poaching activity in the Limpopo Province of South Africa where it occurred. Since it was first thought to be EW, there have been occasional reports that some small subpopulations still persist but no verified, additional plants have been found for >10 years. |
Distribution |
Endemism | South African endemic |
Provincial distribution | Limpopo |
Range | This species used to occur in the Drakensberg of the Limpopo Province, South Africa. Plants were found along the mountain range to the north and east of Penge |
Habitat and Ecology |
Major system | Terrestrial |
Major habitats | Grassland |
Description | Plants used to occur in low open deciduous woodland on cliff faces and in direct sunlight. |
Threats |
| Like other cycad species in Limpopo province, E. nubimontanus was mostly impacted by illegal collecting. |
Population |
The population size of Encephalartos nubimontanus was originally estimated to be 50-100 mature individuals, but the known subpopulations were extirpated by collectors. Surveys of known areas of distribution in 2004 failed to reveal any plants and it was therefore classified as Extinct in the Wild. There have been several unconfirmed reports of possible additional plants in the wild but these have not been validated - the species can be confused with other cycad taxa that occur in the region. Despite requests for any additional information on previously undocumented subpopulations no new information has been provided for over 10 years
|
Conservation |
| Distribution area falls within part of a provincial nature reserve, but no wild plants are known to remain there. |
Assessment History |
Taxon assessed |
Status and Criteria |
Citation/Red List version | | Encephalartos nubimontanus P.J.H.Hurter | Extinct in the Wild | Raimondo et al. (2009) | | Encephalartos nubimontanus P.J.H.Hurter | Endangered | Hilton-Taylor (1996) | |
Bibliography |
Donaldson, J.S. 2003. Cycads. Status survey and conservation action plan. IUCN/SSC Cycad Specialist Group, Gland, Switzerland; Cambridge, UK.
Hilton-Taylor, C. 1996. Red data list of southern African plants. Strelitzia 4. South African National Botanical Institute, Pretoria.
Hurter, J. and Claassen, I. 1996. Focus on Encephalartos nubimontanus. Encephalartos 45:4-11.
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.
|
Citation |
| Bösenberg, J.D., Rodgers, S. & Pillay, D. 2020. Encephalartos nubimontanus P.J.H.Hurter. National Assessment: Red List of South African Plants version . Accessed on 2025/07/04 |
Comment on this assessment
