Mimetes chrysanthus
– Vulnerable
Taxonomy
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Kingdom:
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PLANTAE
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Phylum:
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TRACHEOPHYTA
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Class:
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MAGNOLIOPSIDA
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Order:
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PROTEALES
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Family:
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PROTEACEAE
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Scientific Name:
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Mimetes chrysanthus
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Species Authority:
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J.P. Rourke
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Common Name/s:
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Assessment Information
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Red List Category & Criteria:
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VU D2 ver 2.3 (1994)
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Year Assessed:
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2000
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Assessor/s:
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Hilton-Taylor, C.
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Justification:
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Area of occupancy less than 100 km² and highly susceptible to frequent fires which can pose a major threat.
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Geographic Range
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Range Description:
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This species occurs primarily on the Gamka Mountain range on the south-eastern margin of the little Karoo of the Western Cape. It is known from eight subpopulations comprising approximately 1,000-1,500 mature individuals scattered over just 60 km² of rugged mountainous terrain.
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Countries:
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Native:
South Africa (Western Cape Province)
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Population
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Population Trend:
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Habitat and Ecology
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Habitat and Ecology:
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The species has been recorded from relatively dense dry mountain fynbos vegetation, usually on steep southeast facing sandstone slopes at elevations between 800 and 1,040 m. It flowers mainly in April and May and the fruits take eight months to mature before they are shed in December. The species regenerates purely from seed, therefore it is important that fires are not too frequent to prevent the maintenance of the soil-stored seedbanks.
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System:
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Terrestrial
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Threats
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Threats:
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Frequent fires, especially uncontrolled wildfires pose a major threat. If too frequent the plants would be prevented from reaching flowering maturity and the seedbanks would rapidly be depleted. Invasive alien species, in particular Hakea from Australia, is present in low densities at all of the locations.
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Conservation Actions
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Conservation Actions:
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Half of the population is located within the Gamka Mountain Reserve, a protected area. Plants are also grown at Kirstenbosch National Botanical Garden as part of an ex situ programme.
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