| Scientific Name | Paranomus sp. nov. (Helme 1999 NBG) | Higher Classification | Dicotyledons | Family | PROTEACEAE | Common Names | Palmiet Sceptre (e) |
National Status | Status and Criteria | Critically Endangered B1ab(iii,v)+2ab(iii,v) | Assessment Date | 2020/06/14 | Assessor(s) | A.G. Rebelo, D. Raimondo & L. von Staden | Justification | Paranomus sp. nov. has lost 72% of its former habitat to crop cultivation and now remains at one threat defined location and has an extent of occurrence (EOO) and an area of occupancy (AOO) of 8 km². Three of the four subpopulations recorded in 1992 have gone extinct, the only remaining subpopulation numbers between 500 and 1000 mature individuals and is declining due to habitat degradation to alien plant invasion and too infrequent fire. This species therefore qualifies for listing as Critically Endangered under criterion B. |
Distribution | Endemism | South African endemic | Provincial distribution | Western Cape | Range | This species is known from Palmiet River Valley near Elgin, in the Western Cape Province of South Africa. |
Habitat and Ecology | Major system | Terrestrial | Major habitats | Elgin Shale Fynbos | Description | It is most prominent in the vegetation type Elgin Shale Fynbos. 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 | | A total of 72% of this species former habitat has been converted for crop cultivation (deciduous fruit and vines). Three subpopulations have been lost since 1992, two due to crop cultivation and the third due to severe infestations of alien invasive pines, acacia and hakeas. The only remaining subpopulation is threatened by too-infrequent fire. It is currently burning at 20 year intervals with the last two fires in 1983 and 2003. A fire in 2017 did not burn this subpopulation but burnt all the fynbos that connects this subpopulation with continuous natural habitat. It is therefore unlikely that this subpopulation will burn for the next 10 years. Moist fynbos should burn ever 12-15 years. |
Population | Four subpopulations of this species were recorded between 1992 and 2005. Two of these have gone extinct due to crop cultivation, these are the Somersfontein subpopulation where there were eight plants in 1992, and the Sutherland subpopulation where there were fewer than five plants in 2005. A third subpopulation at Arieskraal that numbered 13 plants in 1992 is likely also to be extinct as the site in 2020 was densely invaded by invasive alien plants. This leaves only one remaining subpopulation which occurs on the farm Solva in the largest remaining fragment of intact Elgin Shale Fynbos. This subpopulation, that numbered between 500 and 1000 plants in 2001, is suspected to be declining at an ongoing rate as a result of too infrequent fire, and competition from invasive alien plants. There has been no recent monitoring of this last remaining subpopulation.
| Population trend | Decreasing |
Assessment History |
Taxon assessed |
Status and Criteria |
Citation/Red List version | | Paranomus sp. nov. (Helme 1999 NBG) | CR B1b(i,ii)c(iv)+2b(i,ii)c(iv) | 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., Raimondo, D. & von Staden, L. 2020. Paranomus sp. nov. (Helme 1999 NBG). National Assessment: Red List of South African Plants version . Accessed on 2025/04/18 |
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