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Scientific Name | Encephalartos cupidus R.A.Dyer |
Higher Classification | Gymnosperms |
Family | ZAMIACEAE |
Common Names | Blyde River Cycad (e), siJekwane (sw) |
National Status |
Status and Criteria | Critically Endangered A2acd+4acd; B1ab(ii,iii,v); C1+2a(i) |
Assessment Date | 2020/05/07 |
Assessor(s) | J.D. Bösenberg, T. Steyn & J.S. Donaldson |
Justification | This species is assessed as Critically Endangered. It originally occurred in the Limpopo and Mpumalanga provinces of South Africa, but repeat surveys show that it is probably extinct in Limpopo and now only survives in the Blyderivierspoort Nature Reserve in Mpumalanga. There has been a 95% population reduction, in the subpopulations that have been continuously monitored, over the last three generations. Although other subpopulations may exist, the decline is still likely to exceed 80%. The remaining population has a very small extent of occurrence (20 km²), restricted to one location and there is continuing decline due to the impacts of collectors. |
Distribution |
Endemism | South African endemic |
Provincial distribution | Limpopo, Mpumalanga |
Range | This species is confined to the Blyderivierspoort Nature Reserve, Mpumalanga, South Africa. It has been recorded to occur from 700 up to 1,500 m asl. There are unconfirmed reports of a relatively large Encephalartos cupidus population within the species' historic distribution range within Limpopo (Government Gazette 2016). |
Habitat and Ecology |
Major system | Terrestrial |
Major habitats | Ohrigstad Mountain Bushveld, Northern Escarpment Quartzite Sourveld |
Description | It grows in open grassy situations on steep to precipitous rocky slopes or cliffs. Plants are also sometimes found along seepage areas bordering gallery forest as well as in dry forest. |
Threats |
| This species has suffered greatly as a result of over-collecting for ornamental purposes. Due to the small number of plants in the wild, reproductive failure is quite possible in the future. Droughts and fires also cause high mortality among the seedlings. |
Population |
Despite occurring in a provincial nature reserve, severe declines have been observed for this species from estimates of 1,110 plants in 1984, to 861 plants in 1999 to approximately 50 plants when last surveyed (95% reduction). In 2004 the species was confirmed extinct in Limpopo province and now survives in small remnants in Mpumalanga province. These declines have been caused by poaching for horticultural/ornamental and medicinal purposes, and the species has been extirpated in two localities. There are unconfirmed reports of a previously undocumented subpopulation but the extent of this subpopulation and its status have yet to be verified (Government Gazette 2016).
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Population trend | Decreasing |
Assessment History |
Taxon assessed |
Status and Criteria |
Citation/Red List version | | Encephalartos cupidus R.A.Dyer | CR A2acd; B1ab(ii,iv,v)+2ab(ii,iv,v) | Raimondo et al. (2009) | | Encephalartos cupidus R.A.Dyer | Vulnerable | Hilton-Taylor (1996) | | Encephalartos cupidus R.A.Dyer | Endangered | Hall et al. (1980) | |
Bibliography |
Donaldson, J.S. 2003. Cycads. Status survey and conservation action plan. IUCN/SSC Cycad Specialist Group, Gland, Switzerland; Cambridge, UK.
Emery, A.J., Lötter, M. and Williamson, S.D. 2002. Determining the conservation value of land in Mpumalanga. Report to the Department of Water Affairs and Forestry, South Africa.
Goode, D. 1989. Cycads of Africa. Struik/Winchester, Cape Town.
Goode, D. 2001. Cycads of Africa Volume I. D&E Cycads of Africa, Gallo Manor.
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.
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.
Slabbert, R. and Hurter, J. 1993. Focus on Encephalartos cupidus. Encephalartos 36:5-10.
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Citation |
| Bösenberg, J.D., Steyn, T. & Donaldson, J.S. 2020. Encephalartos cupidus R.A.Dyer. National Assessment: Red List of South African Plants version . Accessed on 2025/05/15 |
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