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Scientific Name | Leucadendron bonum I.Williams |
Higher Classification | Dicotyledons |
Family | PROTEACEAE |
Common Names | Gideonskop Conebush (e) |
National Status |
Status and Criteria | Critically Endangered B1ab(v)+2ab(v); C2a(i); D |
Assessment Date | 2019/08/13 |
Assessor(s) | A.G. Rebelo, H. Mtshali & D. Raimondo |
Justification | This species is restricted to the Koue Bokkeveld Mountains, South Africa, and has an extent of occurrence (EOO) and area of occupancy (AOO) of 8 km². Only two small, severely fragmented subpopulations are known. Fire-related population fluctuations have been observed. In 2005 there were only six known adult plants, and at present the population is less than 50 mature individuals. The population is estimated to fluctuate between five and 100 plants, however as this species has soil stored seed banks these fluctuations to not qualify for extreme fluctuations according the IUCN definition. It continues to decline due to inappropriate fire management, skewed sex ratios and genetic decline in small subpopulations. It therefore qualifies for listing as Critically Endangered under criteria B, C and D. |
Distribution |
Endemism | South African endemic |
Provincial distribution | Western Cape |
Range | It is endemic to the Koue Bokkeveld Mountains, in the Western Cape Province of South Africa. |
Habitat and Ecology |
Major system | Terrestrial |
Major habitats | Cederberg Sandstone Fynbos |
Description | It occurs in dry sandy soils among rocky outcrops on flats, 1300-1600 m. Mature individuals are killed by fires, and only seeds survive. Seeds are released after ripening, and dispersed by ants to their underground nests, where they are protected from predation and fire. It is dioecious, with insect-pollinated male and female flowers occurring on separate plants. |
Threats |
| The combination of small subpopulations and skewed male female ratios makes this species extremely vulnerable to local extinctions. Fire-related population fluctuations have been observed, and inappropriate fire management is likely to lead to local extinctions. |
Population |
This species is known from two subpopulations about 4 kms apart. Monitoring during the Protea Atlas Project (1991-2001) recorded fire related population fluctuations. Subpopulations are small, consisting of fewer than 20 mature individuals, and the current population size is less than 50 mature individuals.
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Population trend | Decreasing |
Notes |
| This species is somewhat intermediate between L. pubescens and L. arcuatum. |
Assessment History |
Taxon assessed |
Status and Criteria |
Citation/Red List version | | Leucadendron bonum I.Williams | CR C2a(i)b; D | Raimondo et al. (2009) | | Leucadendron bonum I.Williams | Endangered | Hilton-Taylor (1996) | | Leucadendron bonum I.Williams | Endangered | Hall et al. (1980) | |
Bibliography |
Goldblatt, P. and Manning, J.C. 2000. Cape Plants: A conspectus of the Cape Flora of South Africa. Strelitzia 9. National Botanical Institute, Cape Town.
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.
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Citation |
| Rebelo, A.G., Mtshali, H. & Raimondo, D. 2019. Leucadendron bonum I.Williams. National Assessment: Red List of South African Plants version . Accessed on 2025/05/14 |
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