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Scientific Name | Babiana carminea J.C.Manning & Goldblatt |
Higher Classification | Monocotyledons |
Family | IRIDACEAE |
National Status |
Status and Criteria | Endangered D |
Assessment Date | 2021/02/09 |
Assessor(s) | J.C. Manning, P. Goldblatt & D. Raimondo |
Justification | This is a range-restricted species with an extent of occurrence (EOO) of 69 km², and an area of occupancy (AOO) of 28 km². A single subpopulation of less than 100 mature individuals is potentially threatened by limestone mining. It is therefore listed as Endangered under criteria D. |
Distribution |
Endemism | South African endemic |
Provincial distribution | Western Cape |
Range | A narrow endemic of the Knersvlakte in southern Namaqualand in Western Cape Province, South Africa. |
Habitat and Ecology |
Major system | Terrestrial |
Major habitats | Knersvlakte Dolomite Vygieveld, Knersvlakte Quartz Vygieveld |
Description | It occupies limestone outcrops, with its corms tightly wedged in crevices in the rock. |
Threats |
| There is a potential threat to this range-restricted species from habitat loss due to limestone mining. |
Population |
It is known from one subpopulation, that occurs in two locations. It has a very small population size of less than 100 mature individuals. In 2010, less than 50 mature individuals were recorded in Knersvlakte at one location and in 2019 20 plants were recorded at the second location.
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Population trend | Stable |
Notes |
| It was described in 2007 and it is one of the extremely range-restricted species endemic to a unique and highly restricted limestone habitat on the Knersvlakte (Goldblatt and Manning 2007). They include Ixia acaulis, Bulbine margarethae and Eriospermum arachnoideum. There is interest in limestone mining on the Knersvlakte, and a number of prospecting applications have been submitted for the cluster of properties around the Sout River where these species occur. If mining rights are granted, not only would a unique habitat be lost, but these endemics are all likely to face rapid extinction. |
Assessment History |
Taxon assessed |
Status and Criteria |
Citation/Red List version | | Babiana carminea J.C.Manning & Goldblatt | EN D | Raimondo et al. (2009) | |
Bibliography |
Goldblatt, P. and Manning, J.C. 2007. A revision of the southern African genus Babiana, Iridaceae, Crocoideae. Strelitzia 18:1-97. South African National Biodiversity Institute, Pretoria.
Goldblatt, P. and Manning, J.C. 2020. Iridaceae of southern Africa. Strelitzia 42. 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.
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Citation |
| Manning, J.C., Goldblatt, P. & Raimondo, D. 2021. Babiana carminea J.C.Manning & Goldblatt. National Assessment: Red List of South African Plants version . Accessed on 2025/05/09 |
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