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Scientific Name | Paranomus spathulatus (Thunb.) Kuntze |
Higher Classification | Dicotyledons |
Family | PROTEACEAE |
Synonyms | Nivenia marginata R.Br., Nivenia muirii E.Phillips & Hutch., Nivenia spathulata R.Br., Paranomus flabellifer Salisb. ex Knight |
Common Names | Langeberg Sceptre (e) |
National Status |
Status and Criteria | Least Concern |
Assessment Date | 2020/05/18 |
Assessor(s) | A.G. Rebelo, H. Mtshali & L. von Staden |
Justification | Paranomus spathulatus is a range restricted endemic to Langeberg Sandstone Fynbos, but is locally abundant. It has an extent of occurrence (EOO) of 2996 km², and an area of occupancy (AOO) of 268 km². As there are no severe threats to this species, the population is assumed to be stable, and therefore it is not in danger of extinction and is listed as Least Concern. |
Distribution |
Endemism | South African endemic |
Provincial distribution | Western Cape |
Range | Paranomus spathulatus is endemic to Gamkaberg and Langeberg Mountains in the Western Cape Province, South Africa. It occurs between Tradouw and Garcia's Pass. |
Habitat and Ecology |
Major system | Terrestrial |
Major habitats | North Rooiberg Sandstone Fynbos, North Langeberg Sandstone Fynbos |
Description | This species is largely confined to North Langeberg Sandstone Fynbos. It is generally a long-lived species, and survives fires by resprouting from an underground rootstock. In a few subpopulations, 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 insects. |
Threats |
| There was some decline on the lower slopes of the Langeberg due to habitat loss to crop cultivation in the past, and this threat is ongoing at a very low rate (1% between 1990 and 2014). The upper slopes where it is concentrated are generally unsuited to cultivation and most are in protected areas. Only about 6% of this species' habitat is currently irreversibly modified.
Climate-change models predicted a population reduction of up to 50% by 2025 (Bomhard et al. 2005), however no such drastic reductions have been observed.
It is threatened by competition from alien invasive plants, particularly hackeas on the Langeberg Mountain. The eastern form is potentially vulnerable to both increases in the fire frequency and competition from alien invasive plants. |
Population |
Paranomus spathulatus is abundant occurring as hundreds of scattered subpopulations each with a few hundred plants. The population is currently suspected to be stable.
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Population trend | Stable |
Conservation |
| It is conserved in Boosmansbos, Garcia and Tygerberg Nature Reserves, however most of the records are from the lower north slopes which are not conserved. |
Notes |
| This is the only Proteaceae species known to have two regeneration modes. The eastern forms are single-stemmed and killed by fire, while the western forms are multi-stemmed and resprout after fires. |
Assessment History |
Taxon assessed |
Status and Criteria |
Citation/Red List version | | Paranomus spathulatus (Thunb.) Kuntze | NT A3c+4c | Raimondo 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.
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.
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.
Vlok, J. and Schutte-Vlok, A.L. 2010. Plants of the Klein Karoo. Umdaus Press, Hatfield.
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Citation |
| Rebelo, A.G., Mtshali, H. & von Staden, L. 2020. Paranomus spathulatus (Thunb.) Kuntze. National Assessment: Red List of South African Plants version . Accessed on 2025/04/23 |
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