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Afrikaanse Inligting
Flats Conebush Leucadendron floridum, an endangered species, "discovered" in Claremont
While
shopping in The Link, Claremont, we encountered a flower seller with beautiful
bunches of Flats Imbricate-Conebush Leucadendron floridum. This species is
classified as `Endangered', which signifies that it is in immediate danger of
extinction if factors causing its decline continue operating. The major threats
to the species are urbanization and alien Acacia species, and occasional picking
is an additional recorded threat.
Unfortunately as our Afrikaans is non-existant and the flower seller's English was not too good, we could only ascertain that they were obtained from somewhere near Fish Hoek. We know of no colonies of Leucadendron floridum in that immediate area. What should one do when one encounters flower sellers, or anyone else, selling plants that have Red Data Book status?
Mike & Liz Fraser, Glencairn
There are several options. If you belong to either the Wildlife Society or the Botanical Society please inform your local secretariat and request them to take up the matter urgently. In theory you should contact the conservation section of your Provincial authorities - they are supposed to police flower selling and ensure that the correct permits have been obtained. Permits are not issued for picking or selling Endangered species unless they are grown under cultivation. In practice, the different provincial authorities vary in efficiency: for instance, the Chief Directorate of Nature and Environmental Conservation of the Cape Provincial Administration maintains that the flower trade must police itself!
Once atlassing is underway, the matter may be brought to the attention of the Atlas coordinator, who will inform the relevant authorities.
It would help considerably if atlassers are alert to picking of plants while atlassing: the chopped off branches (look for the smooth cut characteristic of secateurs - blossoms broken off are probably the work of baboons) and occasional piles of debris (where plants are stripped and bundled) are very easy to observe. Record the degree of picking for the relevant species in the "Proteas Present Box" as:
[S] Severe, if more than half the plants show signs of having being picked,
[M] Moderate, if fewer than half the plants are picked, and
[A] Absent, if there is no sign of any picking.
Note: the units are "plants", not "flowerheads". Should you notice anything more of interest (baboon damage, plants killed by picking, etc.) you may include it in the "Additional Comments Box".
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