Encephalartos eugene-maraisii
| Kingdom |
Phylum |
Class |
Order |
Family |
| PLANTAE |
TRACHEOPHYTA |
CYCADOPSIDA |
CYCADALES |
ZAMIACEAE |
| Scientific Name: |
Encephalartos eugene-maraisii |
| Species Authority: |
I.Verd. |
Common Name/s:
| English |
– |
Waterberg Cycad |
|
Assessment Information
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| Red List Category & Criteria: |
Endangered
A2d; C1
ver 3.1
|
| Year Published: |
2010 |
| Assessor/s: |
Donaldson, J.S. |
| Reviewer/s: |
Agenbag, L. & Bösenberg, J.D. |
| Contributor/s: |
|
Justification:
There has been significant collecting over the past 30 years and, based on plants in private collections, this is estimated as a >50% population reduction. Although recent surveys show relatively little illegal collecting, farm managers still feel that collecting is taking place.
|
| History: |
| 2003 |
– |
Endangered
(IUCN 2003)
|
| 2003 |
– |
Endangered
|
| 1997 |
– |
Vulnerable
(Walter and Gillett 1998)
|
|
Geographic Range
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Population
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| Population: |
There are small scattered subpopulations. Poaching of plants has resulted in individuals being far from one another in certain cases. Nature conservation officials undertook helicopter surveys in 2004 and counted 982 plants in 12 localities. This is regarded as a slight underestimate due to poor visibility at the time of surveying.
|
| Population Trend: |
Decreasing
|
Habitat and Ecology
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| Habitat and Ecology: |
The cycads grow on sandstone hills and rocky ridges of the Waterberg range. They grow in open grassland and savanna.
|
| Systems: |
Terrestrial |
| Major Threat(s): |
E. eugene-maraisii is threatened due to over-collecting for ornamental purposes and this could lead to reproductive failure.
|
Conservation Actions
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| Conservation Actions: |
This species is listed on Appendix I of the CITES Appendices. Plants are protected within the boundaries of the Marakele National Park and the Entabeni Private Game Reserve and also in the Sterkrivier Training Area of the South African National Defence Force. The latter is a Natural Heritage Site.
|
