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Scientific Name | Leucadendron lanigerum H.Buek ex Meisn. var. lanigerum |
Higher Classification | Dicotyledons |
Family | PROTEACEAE |
Common Names | Common Shale Conebush (e) |
National Status |
Status and Criteria | Endangered A2c |
Assessment Date | 2020/06/09 |
Assessor(s) | A.G. Rebelo, H. Mtshali & L. von Staden |
Justification | Leucadendron lanigerum var. lanigerum has experienced an estimated population reduction of over 50% in the past three generations, based on a 69% reduction in range size (extent of occurrence) and a 79% loss suitable habitat in the past 100 years (generation length 100 years). It is threatened by ongoing habitat degradation and loss to crop cultivation, alien plant invasion, livestock overgrazing, too infrequent fire, skewed sex ratios and herbicide drift onto small fragments from surrounding agricultural fields. It therefore qualifies for listing as Endangered under criterion A. |
Distribution |
Endemism | South African endemic |
Provincial distribution | Western Cape |
Range | This taxon has a restricted distribution range in the Western Cape, South Africa, where it occurs from Strand and Diep River to Bain's Kloof and Dassenberg. |
Habitat and Ecology |
Major system | Terrestrial |
Major habitats | Swartland Shale Renosterveld, Breede Shale Renosterveld, Swartland Granite Renosterveld, Swartland Silcrete Renosterveld, Boland Granite Fynbos, Cape Flats Sand Fynbos, Atlantis Sand Fynbos, Lourensford Alluvium Fynbos, Swartland Alluvium Fynbos, Breede Alluvium Fynbos |
Description | It occurs on shale- and granite-derived soils, in renosterveld and fynbos. It is a long-lived taxon, and survives fires by resprouting from underground boles or rootstocks, thus generation length exceeds 100 years. 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 79% of this taxon's habitat has already been lost, mainly to urban expansion, cereals, fruit and vine cultivation. The remnant fragments of vegetation between crop fields where this species occurs are threatened by too infrequent fire and degradation by grazing livestock. Decline is predicted to continue as farmers are highly reluctant to burn vegetation between crop fields.
This taxon is furthermore threatened by herbicide drift onto small fragments from surrounding agricultural fields and heavy browsing by cattle. Most of its habitat is also infested with alien invasive plants mainly acacias that are outcompeting native species. |
Population |
Over 50% of the population has been lost over the past three generations, this loss is inferred from the fact that 79% of this taxon's suitable habitat has been irreversibly modified. As a long-lived resprouter, this taxon has a high persistence in isolated remnants and road verges, but mortality has been recorded in senescent veld. Although often persisting well, many isolated remnants have only a handful of plants, with a very marked male-biased sex ratio, and observed differential increased female mortality. The population is declining due to ongoing habitat conversion.
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Population trend | Decreasing |
Conservation |
| Sizeable subpopulations are still present in Elandsberg, Paarl Mountain, Riverlands nature reserves, and in the Paardeberg Conservancy. |
Assessment History |
Taxon assessed |
Status and Criteria |
Citation/Red List version | | Leucadendron lanigerum H.Buek ex Meisn. var. lanigerum | EN A2c | 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., Mtshali, H. & von Staden, L. 2020. Leucadendron lanigerum H.Buek ex Meisn. var. lanigerum. National Assessment: Red List of South African Plants version . Accessed on 2025/05/09 |
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