Silver-edge Pincushion

Taxonomy
Scientific Name
Leucospermum patersonii E.Phillips
Higher Classification
Dicotyledons
Family
PROTEACEAE
Common Names
Baster-kreupelhout (a), False Tree Pincushion (e), Paterson's Pincushion (e), Silver-edge Pincushion (e), Vals-kreupelhout (e)
National Status
Status and Criteria
Near Threatened B1ab(iii,v)+2ab(iii,v)
Assessment Date
2020/07/05
Assessor(s)
A.G. Rebelo, H. Mtshali & L. von Staden
Justification
Leucospermum patersonii has a restricted distribution range and has an extent of occurrence (EOO) of 1120 km², and an area of occupancy (AOO) of 204 km². It is declining due to over harvesting and ongoing habitat degradation over most of its range. Recent field observations however confirm that it is still fairly common, remaining at between 15 and 19 locations, and therefore it nearly meets the thresholds for Vulnerable under criterion B and is listed as Near Threatened.
Distribution
Endemism
South African endemic
Provincial distribution
Western Cape
Range
Leucospermum patersonii is endemic to coastal areas of Western Cape Province, South Africa, occurring from Kleinmond to Cape Agulhas.
Habitat and Ecology
Major system
Terrestrial
Major habitats
Agulhas Limestone Fynbos
Description
It is restricted to limestone fynbos, 20-460 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 pollinated by birds.
Threats
A small proportion (8%) of this species habitat has been lost to agriculture expansion and coastal developments in Hermanus, Gansbaai, and Pearly Beach, in the past. Hybridization with L. cordifolium species grown near wild populations has been observed. This species was found to be the most intensely harvested of all proteas during the Protea Atlas Project (Rebelo, 1996). There is also ongoing habitat loss and degradation of the remaining limestone fragments due to spreading, unmanaged invasive plants that are outcompeting native species Climate change models predicted a significant population reduction by 2025 (Bomhard et al. 2005), but no drastic decline has yet been observed.
Population

This species used to locally common in its habitat, extending from Cape Agulhas to Stanford, with outlying population at Kleinmond that is now extinct as it was last recorded in the 1960s. The former Hermanus subpopulation has also gone extinct. Extensive subpopulations occur in Agulhas National Park, Heidehof Nature Reserve, Swartkransberg and Hagelkraal. Population reduction is inferred from ongoing habitat degradation and harvesting.


Population trend
Decreasing
Conservation
It is present in Groot Hagelkraal and Rietfontein Private nature reserves. It has a lifehistory type and distribution that makes it vulnerable to overharvesting and monitoring of the wild flower harvesting is required (Privett et al., 2005).
Assessment History
Taxon assessed
Status and Criteria
Citation/Red List version
Leucospermum patersonii E.PhillipsVU A3c+4cRaimondo et al. (2009)
Bibliography

Bomhard, B., Richardson, D.M., Donaldson, J.S., Hughes, G.O., Midgley, G.F., Raimondo, D.C., Rebelo, A.G., Rouget, M. and Thuiller, W. 2005. Potential impacts of future land use and climate change on the Red List status of the Proteaceae in the Cape Floristic Region, South Africa. Global Change Biology 11(9):1452-1468.


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.


Manning, J.C. and Goldblatt, P. 2012. Plants of the Greater Cape Floristic Region 1: The Core Cape Flora. Strelitzia 29. South African National Biodiversity Institute, Pretoria.


Privett, S., Bailey, R., Raimondo, D., Kirkwood, D. and Euston-Brown, D. 2005. A vulnerability index for rare and harvested plant species on the Agulhas Plain. Flower Valley Conservation Trust.


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. 1996. Acid Rain. Protea Atlas Newsletter 30:12.


Rebelo, T. 2001. Sasol Proteas: A field guide to the proteas of southern Africa. (2nd ed.). Fernwood Press, Vlaeberg, Cape Town.


Citation
Rebelo, A.G., Mtshali, H. & von Staden, L. 2020. Leucospermum patersonii E.Phillips. National Assessment: Red List of South African Plants version . Accessed on 2025/04/29

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Distribution map


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