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Scientific Name | Serruria villosa (Lam.) R.Br. |
Higher Classification | Dicotyledons |
Family | PROTEACEAE |
Synonyms | Serruria vallaris Salisb. ex Knight |
Common Names | Golden Spiderhead (e) |
National Status |
Status and Criteria | Rare |
Assessment Date | 2020/08/12 |
Assessor(s) | A.G. Rebelo, H. Mtshali & L. von Staden |
Justification | Serruria villosa is a range-restricted habitat species, with an extent of occurrence (EOO) of 264 km². It is protected in the Table Mountain National Park and the population is currently stable. It is therefore listed nationally as Rare, and qualifies under the IUCN categories as Least Concern. |
Distribution |
Endemism | South African endemic |
Provincial distribution | Western Cape |
Range | This species is endemic to the Cape Peninsula in the Western Cape Province of South Africa. |
Habitat and Ecology |
Major system | Terrestrial |
Major habitats | Peninsula Sandstone Fynbos |
Description | It occurs on sandstone flats and slopes, 10-600 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 insects. |
Threats |
| Its habitat is formally protected, but alien invasive acacias are a potential threat. Parts of the Cape Peninsula were formerly densely invaded with alien species, which were outcompeting this species. There were extensive clearing efforts in the early 2000s, and management and clearing is ongoing to prevent reinvasions. |
Population |
This species is common, and forms dense colonies within its habitat. The vast majority of extant subpopulations are within the Table Mountain National Park. The population is currently stable.
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Population trend | Stable |
Assessment History |
Taxon assessed |
Status and Criteria |
Citation/Red List version | | Serruria villosa (Lam.) R.Br. | Rare | Raimondo et al. (2009) | |
Bibliography |
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.
Helme, N.A. and Trinder-Smith, T.H. 2006. The endemic flora of the Cape Peninsula, South Africa. South African Journal of Botany 72(2):205-210.
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.
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Citation |
| Rebelo, A.G., Mtshali, H. & von Staden, L. 2020. Serruria villosa (Lam.) R.Br. National Assessment: Red List of South African Plants version . Accessed on 2025/04/14 |
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