|
Scientific Name | Babiana leipoldtii G.J.Lewis |
Higher Classification | Monocotyledons |
Family | IRIDACEAE |
National Status |
Status and Criteria | Endangered B1ab(iii,v)+2ab(iii,v) |
Assessment Date | 2021/04/29 |
Assessor(s) | P. Goldblatt, J.C. Manning, D. Raimondo & L. von Staden |
Justification | This is a formerly widespread species that has declined extensively, currently occupying a few small isolated fragments of lowland sand fynbos. It has an extent of occurrence (EOO) of 1 051 km², and an area of occupancy (AOO) of 124 km². The severely fragmented population continues to decline due to ongoing habitat loss and degradation. It is therefore listed as Endangered under criteria B. |
Distribution |
Endemism | South African endemic |
Provincial distribution | Western Cape |
Range | It is a relatively rare endemic of the coastal forelands of Western Cape, South Africa. It extends from near Hopefield to Darling and Klipheuwel. |
Habitat and Ecology |
Major system | Terrestrial |
Major habitats | Swartland Granite Renosterveld, Swartland Silcrete Renosterveld, Swartland Alluvium Renosterveld, Cape Flats Sand Fynbos, Atlantis Sand Fynbos, Hopefield Sand Fynbos |
Description | It occurs in seasonally damp loamy soils on sandy flats. |
Threats |
| This species has lost more than 80% of its habitat to urban and agricultural expansion. The remaining subpopulations are mainly threatened by competition from dense, unmanaged infestations of alien invasive plants. Additional threats include ongoing habitat loss due to urban and industrial expansion, overgrazing and inappropriate fire management. Little of its former range remains, as the wet, poorly drained sandy flats where it grows are rapidly disappearing under the plough or being invaded by alien Acacia species. |
Population |
Its population has been fragmented by extensive habitat loss. Currently the largest remaining subpopulation occurs scattered across several fragments of lowland sand fynbos between Malmesbury and Mamre. There are at least 10 other remaining subpopulations all confined to small, isolated fynbos remnants between Hopefield and Klipheuwel, and all continue to decline due to ongoing habitat degradation. Monitoring data from the Custodians of Rare and Endangered Wildflowers (CREW) Programme and iNaturalist citizen science platform collected between 2006 and 2021 indicate that most subpopulations have less than 10 mature individuals, the largest known subpopulation at Riverlands Nature Reserve has less than 100 mature individuals.
|
Population trend | Decreasing |
Assessment History |
Taxon assessed |
Status and Criteria |
Citation/Red List version | | Babiana leipoldtii G.J.Lewis | EN B1ab(iii,v)+2ab(iii,v) | 2017.1 | | Babiana leipoldtii G.J.Lewis | CR B2ab(i,ii,iii,iv,v) | Raimondo et al. (2009) | | Babiana leipoldtii G.J.Lewis | Rare | Hilton-Taylor (1996) | | Babiana leipoldtii G.J.Lewis | Indeterminate | Hall et al. (1980) | |
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.
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.
Hall, A.V., De Winter, M., De Winter, B. and Van Oosterhout, S.A.M. 1980. Threatened plants of southern Africa. South African National Scienctific Programmes Report 45. CSIR, Pretoria.
Hilton-Taylor, C. 1996. Red data list of southern African plants. Strelitzia 4. South African National Botanical Institute, Pretoria.
Manning, J., Goldblatt, P. and Snijman, D. 2002. The color encyclopedia of Cape bulbs. Timber Press, Portland/Cambridge.
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.
|
Citation |
| Goldblatt, P., Manning, J.C., Raimondo, D. & von Staden, L. 2021. Babiana leipoldtii G.J.Lewis. National Assessment: Red List of South African Plants version . Accessed on 2025/06/28 |
Comment on this assessment
