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Scientific Name | Leucadendron lanigerum H.Buek ex Meisn. var. laevigatum Meisn. |
Higher Classification | Dicotyledons |
Family | PROTEACEAE |
Common Names | Worcester Shale Conebush (e) |
National Status |
Status and Criteria | Critically Endangered A2ace; C1 |
Assessment Date | 2020/04/28 |
Assessor(s) | A.G. Rebelo, D. Raimondo, R. Koopman, I. Ebrahim & L. von Staden |
Justification | Leucadendron lanigerum var. laevigatum is a restricted endemic to the upper Breede River Valley in the Western Cape South Africa, this species has an extent of occurrence (EOO) of 171 km² and an area of occupancy (AOO) of between 56 and 60 km². A population reduction of over 93% has taken place since 1996 (two generations), with between 22 and 34% of this reduction having taken place since 2006 (one generation). The population now numbers fewer than 200 mature individuals and remaining subpopulations are small occurring on isolated remnants. Decline due to invasive alien species and too infrequent fire is ongoing. It therefore qualifies as Critically Endangered under criteria A and C. |
Distribution |
Endemism | South African endemic |
Provincial distribution | Western Cape |
Range | This taxon is endemic to the Western Cape, South Africa, where it occurs in the Breede River Valley from Tulbagh to Wolseley. |
Habitat and Ecology |
Major system | Terrestrial |
Major habitats | Breede Shale Fynbos, Breede Alluvium Fynbos |
Description | It is most prominent in Breede Alluvium Fynbos. This taxon is a reseeder, with seedlings germinating following fire. 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. This taxon has a generation length of between 15 and 20 years. |
Threats |
| This variety has lost over 80% of its habitat to vineyard cultivation, with 20% of this loss having taken place since 1990. Remaining stands that occur in isolated remnants are threatened by the spread of alien invasive woody species (pinus, hakea and acacias) and too-infrequent fire. |
Population |
Herbarium records suggest that this taxon was once common in the Breede River Valley from Tulbagh Waterfall to Breeriver, however this area is now intensively farmed and the population has experienced ongoing severe declines. There are six confirmed extinct subpopulations, with the two largest recorded subpopulations one adjacent at Le Plaisante Primary School (consisting of between 2000 and 5000 plants) lost to vineyard cultivation in 1997 and a second large stand of between 1000 and 2000 plants at Romans Rivier farm lost between 2006 and 2015 for construction of fruit tunnels There are between four and five small subpopulations remaining and monitoring during the Protea Atlas Project implemented between 1992 and 2002 combined with recent monitoring between 2003 and 2020 by the Custodians of Rare and Endangered Wildflowers Programme has documented declining trends at all remaining subpopulations. Overall the population has decline from an estimated 4370 -8420 mature individuals in 1996 to fewer than 200 individuals in 2020. This represents a decline of between 93 and 98%, between 22% and 34% of this decline has taken place in the last generation since 2006. It is doubtful that any of the remaining subpopulations are viable. The subpopulation found at Wolseley Commonage is likely the largest consisting of between 50 and 100 mature individuals. Romans Rivier farm viable in 1996 is now down to fewer than 50 plants. Two to three other small stands of fewer than 10 individuals remain on road verges or between cultivated fields.
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Population trend | Decreasing |
Conservation |
| There are no formally conserved subpopulations. |
Notes |
| Given the current knowledge of the distributions of the two varieties of L. lanigerum, they should be reassigned as subspecies. |
Assessment History |
Taxon assessed |
Status and Criteria |
Citation/Red List version | | Leucadendron lanigerum H.Buek ex Meisn. var. laevigatum Meisn. | CR A2c; B1b(i,ii,iii,iv,v)c(iv) | Raimondo et al. (2009) | |
Bibliography |
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., Koopman, R., Ebrahim, I. & von Staden, L. 2020. Leucadendron lanigerum H.Buek ex Meisn. var. laevigatum Meisn. National Assessment: Red List of South African Plants version . Accessed on 2025/05/18 |
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