Escarpment Pincushion

Taxonomy
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.


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.MooreEN DRaimondo et al. (2009)
Leucospermum saxosum S.MooreRare Hilton-Taylor (1996)
Leucospermum saxosum S.MooreRare 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.


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 2025/04/29

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Distribution map

© S.P. Fourie

© J.E. Burrows

© J.E. Burrows


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