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Scientific Name | Encephalartos cycadifolius (Jacq.) Lehm. |
Higher Classification | Gymnosperms |
Family | ZAMIACEAE |
Common Names | Bread Palm (e), Kafferbrood (a), Kafferbroodboom (a), Winterberg Cycad (e) |
National Status |
Status and Criteria | Least Concern |
Assessment Date | 2020/05/26 |
Assessor(s) | J.D. Bösenberg & J.S. Donaldson |
Justification | Although the species has a relatively small extent of occurrence, it is very abundant (more than 20,000 mature plants) and adult plants showed almost no mortality over a ten year period of survey work. There are reports of some mortality due to porcupine damage, especially in areas impacted by severe drought, but these appear to be restricted to subpopulations occurring in marginal habitat and the overall status of the species appears to be stable. Therefore, it is assessed as Least Concern |
Distribution |
Endemism | South African endemic |
Provincial distribution | Eastern Cape |
Range | This species is restricted to the Winterberg mountains to the north of Bedford in the Eastern Cape Province, South Africa, recorded from 1,200 to 1,800 m asl. There are two confirmed records of large clusters (probably single plants) occurring approximately 50 km and 86 km west of the main distribution region. The size of these plants suggests ages of >300 years so they are not recent migrants. If included in the distribution range, the Extent of Occurrence would be >1,500km2. |
Habitat and Ecology |
Major system | Terrestrial |
Major habitats | Grassland |
Description | This species grows in semi-dry grassland areas in shallow shale soils on the northern and eastern slopes of the mountains. Encephalartos cycadifolius is adapted to fire. |
Threats |
| Baboons and porcupines can sometimes damage cones and newly emerged leaves of this species. Too frequent fires may have an effect on seedlings and juveniles. |
Population |
There are at least six subpopulations and all of these are healthy and viable. Donaldson and co-workers counted/estimated that one subpopulation comprised more than 20,000 mature plants based on sub-sampling.
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Population trend | Stable |
Assessment History |
Taxon assessed |
Status and Criteria |
Citation/Red List version | | Encephalartos cycadifolius (Jacq.) Lehm. | Least Concern | Raimondo et al. (2009) | | Encephalartos cycadifolius (Jacq.) Lehm. | Vulnerable | Hilton-Taylor (1996) | | Encephalartos cycadifolius (Jacq.) Lehm. | Vulnerable | 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.
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. 1991. Focus on Encephalartos cycadifolius. Encephalartos 26:3-7.
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 cycadifolius (Jacq.) Lehm. National Assessment: Red List of South African Plants version . Accessed on 2025/05/17 |
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