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Scientific Name | Leucadendron flexuosum I.Williams |
Higher Classification | Dicotyledons |
Family | PROTEACEAE |
Common Names | Worcester Conebush (e) |
National Status |
Status and Criteria | Critically Endangered B1ab(ii,iii,v) |
Assessment Date | 2019/09/03 |
Assessor(s) | A.G. Rebelo, H. Mtshali & L. von Staden |
Justification | Leucadendron flexuosum is a restricted endemic to the Breede River Valley in South Africa, and has an extent of occurrence (EOO) of 56 km². Between 400-500 plants at a single known location continue to decline due to expanding agriculture, alien plant invasion, overgrazing, clearing and mowing of road verges and inappropriate fire management. |
Distribution |
Endemism | South African endemic |
Provincial distribution | Western Cape |
Range | This species is endemic to Breede River Valley near Worcester, in the Western Cape Province of South Africa. |
Habitat and Ecology |
Major system | Terrestrial |
Major habitats | Breede Quartzite Fynbos, Breede Sand Fynbos, Breede Alluvium Fynbos |
Description | It occurs in alluvial flats with deep soils containing a high proportion of water-worn stones. It is a long-lived species, and survives fires by resprouting from an underground rootstock. Wind-dispersed seeds are stored in fire-resistant inflorescences, and released after fires. It is dioecious, with insect-pollinated male and female flowers occurring on separate plants. |
Threats |
| At least 57% of habitat has been lost in the past to vineyards, cereals, and pasture cultivation, and road construction. There is no longer severe significant ongoing habitat loss, however small remaining alluvium fynbos fragments are invaded by alien Australian wattles and hakeas that are outcompeting native species. Fragments are subjected to heavy grazing by cattle and horses, as well as to too frequent fires lit to enhance grazing. Additional threats include clearing of aliens by uprooting followed by hot fires as a result of burning cleared invasive plants. Repeated mowing of road verges is also a threat. Were it not a resprouter it would most likely have become extinct as the area has been both brush cut and repeatedly burnt for grazing. |
Population |
There are only two small stands of this species remain from one location. Together these consist of between 400 and 500 plants. No conservation measures have been taken to protect the remaining subpopulation, and they continue to decline due to habitat loss and degradation. Two other large former subpopulations have been documented to be lost to crop cultivation since 1984.
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Population trend | Decreasing |
Assessment History |
Taxon assessed |
Status and Criteria |
Citation/Red List version | | Leucadendron flexuosum I.Williams | CR B1ab(i,ii,iii,iv,v) | Raimondo et al. (2009) | | Leucadendron flexuosum I.Williams | Endangered | Hilton-Taylor (1996) | | Leucadendron flexuosum 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. 1982. Rare plants Gazette No 1. February 1982. Bolus Herbarium, University of 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.
Rebelo, T. 1980 - unpublished. Taxonomic revision of the genus Lonchostoma.
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., Mtshali, H. & von Staden, L. 2019. Leucadendron flexuosum I.Williams. National Assessment: Red List of South African Plants version . Accessed on 2025/05/18 |
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