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Scientific Name | Leucospermum saxosum S.Moore |
Higher Classification | Dicotyledons |
Family | PROTEACEAE |
Common Names | Escarpment Pincushion (e) |
National Status |
Status and Criteria | Endangered* D |
Assessment Date | 2020/07/05 |
Assessor(s) | A.G. Rebelo, H. Mtshali & L. von Staden |
Justification | In South Africa, Leucospermum saxosum is known from four locations and the population is severely fragmented. The national population represents less than 5% of the global population and is potentially threatened due to the fragmentation of its habitat by forestry plantations, lack of fire and invasion of habitat by alien invasive species. With fewer than 250 mature individuals known in South Africa it qualifies for listing as Endangered under criterion D. As it is isolated from the Chimanimani subpopulations (Zimbabwe) by over 500 km the national assessment is therefore not downgraded. |
Distribution |
Endemism | Not endemic to South Africa |
Provincial distribution | Limpopo, Mpumalanga |
Range | It occurs on the Northern Drakensberg Escarpment in South Africa, from Tzaneen to Lydenburg, the South African subpopulations are disjunct from the main subpopulation which is found on the Chimanimani Mountains in Zimbabwe and Mozambique. |
Habitat and Ecology |
Major system | Terrestrial |
Major habitats | Northern Escarpment Afromontane Fynbos, Northern Escarpment Quartzite Sourveld |
Description | This species is common on quartzite outcrops. It is a long-lived species, and survives fires by resprouting from underground boles or rootstocks. 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 |
| It is common, widespread and protected in Chimanimani mountains, and has no significant threats.The subpopulations in South Africa are small in size and isolated due to afforestation. The remaining habitat within South Africa is likely to be degraded in future by lack of fire and invasion by escaping pine seedlings. |
Population |
Leucospermum saxosum is rare in Limpopo and Mpumalanga provinces of South Africa and locally abundant in Mozambique and Zimbabwe (Burrows et al., 2018). Currently, there are four known subpopulations in South Africa. Rourke (1972) doubted the record in Barberton, but this has been confirmed by a new observation in iNaturalist uploaded in 2013. The population is not suspected to be declining, but has the potential to decline in future in South Africa due to lack of fire and expansion of forestry. There are no significant threats to the subpopulations on the Chimanimani Mountains.
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Population trend | Stable |
Conservation |
| While this species is not conserved in South Africa the majority of the population is fortunately present in the Chimanimani National Park in Zimbabwe. |
Notes |
| DNA studies should be undertaken to ascertain if the Drakensberg subpopulations are in fact more closely related to the Chimanimani L. saxosum or to L. innovans. The highly disjunct nature of the species range strains credulity. The Hebron Mountain subpopulation has different leaf shape to the Chimanimani subpopulation (Rourke, 1971). |
Assessment History |
Taxon assessed |
Status and Criteria |
Citation/Red List version | | Leucospermum saxosum S.Moore | EN D | Raimondo et al. (2009) | | Leucospermum saxosum S.Moore | Rare | Hilton-Taylor (1996) | | Leucospermum saxosum S.Moore | Rare | Hall et al. (1980) | |
Bibliography |
Burrows, J.E., Burrows, S.M., Lötter, M.C. and Schmidt, E. 2018. Trees and shrubs Mozambique. Publishing Print Matters, 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. 2001. Sasol Proteas: A field guide to the proteas of southern Africa. (2nd ed.). Fernwood Press, Vlaeberg, Cape Town.
Rourke, J.P. 1971. Leucospermum saxosum. Flowering Plants of Africa 41:t.1633.
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Citation |
| Rebelo, A.G., Mtshali, H. & von Staden, L. 2020. Leucospermum saxosum S.Moore. National Assessment: Red List of South African Plants version . Accessed on 2025/05/12 |
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