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Scientific Name | Leucadendron elimense E.Phillips subsp. vyeboomense I.Williams |
Higher Classification | Dicotyledons |
Family | PROTEACEAE |
Common Names | Vyeboom Conebush (e) |
National Status |
Status and Criteria | Critically Endangered B1ab(iii,v)+2ab(iii,v); C2a(ii) |
Assessment Date | 2020/06/08 |
Assessor(s) | A.G. Rebelo, D. Raimondo & L. von Staden |
Justification | Leucadendron elimense subsp. vyeboomense is a highly range restricted taxon which has lost 81% of its former range and habitat to crop cultivation and the building of Theewaterskloof Dam. It now remains at one location and has an extent of occurrence (EOO) and area of occupancy (AOO) of 12 km². The population continues to decline due to ongoing habitat loss to crop cultivation, alien plant invasion, too infrequent fire and drought. There are currently 249 mature individuals that are extant with 17% of the population having died between 2018 and 2019, decline is likely to be ongoing. It therefore qualifies as Critically Endangered under criteria B and C. |
Distribution |
Endemism | South African endemic |
Provincial distribution | Western Cape |
Range | This subspecies is known from Viljoen's Pass to Theewaterskloof Dam, in the Western Cape Province South Africa. |
Habitat and Ecology |
Major system | Terrestrial |
Major habitats | Elgin Shale Fynbos |
Description | It occurs in Elgin shale fynbos. Mature individuals are killed by fires, and only seeds survive. Seeds are released after ripening, and are stored in surface leaf-litter. It is dioecious, with insect-pollinated male and female flowers occurring on separate plants. |
Threats |
| A total of 81% of this subspecies habitat has been lost in the past to crop cultivation (vineyards and deciduous fruit orchards), furthermore part of its habitat was lost to flooding when the Theewaterskloof Dam was built. There is ongoing degradation at the last known location for this taxon as a result of alien invasive species (hakea, wattles and pines) and too-infrequent fire in isolated remnants (portions of the site have not been burnt for over 50 years). This taxon is also sensitive to drought conditions and there have been severe droughts in the western Cape between 2014 and 2019. |
Population |
Historically known from a 12 km-long range, currently only known from a 5 km-long range in the northern extent of its original distribution. Only one subpopulation remains at Klipfontein Private Nature Reserve, this subpopulation numbered between 300 and 500 mature individuals during the Protea Atlas Project in 1996. Since 2005 there has been a process of changing the site's ownership, what was formerly state land now belongs to a local community whom have been made aware of the presence of this taxon. However An additional 5% of the site has been ploughed since 2014 by the community in order to plant crops. The site was burnt in 2016 and follow-up surveys by the conservation agency CapeNature in 2018 indicate were 306 mature individuals of which 200 were male plants. In 2019 only female plants were counted 100 females were found but 17 of these had died in the past year. The reason for death is unknown as the vegetation looked healthy, but it is mostly likely due to drought conditions experienced in the years since the site burnt. If the same level of mortality is applied to the male portion of the population then the population currently number 249 individuals. There is ongoing degradation of this taxon's habitat as a result of invasive alien plant spread, drought and incorrect fire management. The population trend is declining.
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Population trend | Decreasing |
Conservation |
| The largest remnants are now conserved in the Klipfontein Private Nature Reserve. |
Assessment History |
Taxon assessed |
Status and Criteria |
Citation/Red List version | | Leucadendron elimense E.Phillips subsp. vyeboomense I.Williams | CR B1ab(i,ii,iii,iv,v)c(iv) | Raimondo et al. (2009) | | Leucadendron elimense E.Phillips subsp. vyeboomense I.Williams | Endangered | Hilton-Taylor (1996) | | Leucadendron elimense E.Phillips subsp. vyeboomense I.Williams | Endangered | Hall et al. (1980) | |
Bibliography |
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.
Rebelo, T. 2001. Sasol Proteas: A field guide to the proteas of southern Africa. (2nd ed.). Fernwood Press, Vlaeberg, Cape Town.
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Citation |
| Rebelo, A.G., Raimondo, D. & von Staden, L. 2020. Leucadendron elimense E.Phillips subsp. vyeboomense I.Williams. National Assessment: Red List of South African Plants version . Accessed on 2025/05/14 |
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