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Scientific Name | Sparaxis grandiflora (D.Delaroche) Ker Gawl. subsp. violacea (Eckl.) Goldblatt |
Higher Classification | Monocotyledons |
Family | IRIDACEAE |
Synonyms | Sparaxis bulbifera (L.) Ker Gawl. var. violacea (Eckl.) Baker in sense of Baker, Sparaxis cana Eckl., Sparaxis violaceae Eckl. |
Common Names | Plum Grand Satinflower (e) |
National Status |
Status and Criteria | Endangered B1ab(i,ii,iii,iv,v)+2ab(i,ii,iii,iv,v) |
Assessment Date | 2023/07/25 |
Assessor(s) | P. Goldblatt, J.C. Manning, L. von Staden & T. Patel |
Justification | This subspecies has an extent of occurrence (EOO) of 2450 km², and an area of occupancy (AOO) of <100 km². Between six and ten severely fragmented remaining subpopulations continue to decline due to ongoing habitat loss and degradation, as well as competition from alien invasive plants. It is therefore listed as Endangered under criterion B. |
Distribution |
Endemism | South African endemic |
Provincial distribution | Western Cape |
Range | It is endemic to the Western Cape Province of South Africa where it occurs across the low, rolling hills of the Overberg, extending from Bot River in the west to Fairfield near Napier in the east. |
Habitat and Ecology |
Major system | Terrestrial |
Major habitats | Western Ruens Shale Renosterveld, Greyton Shale Fynbos, Elgin Shale Fynbos, Boland Granite Fynbos |
Description | Plants grow on clay slopes and flats in renosterveld. |
Threats |
| Less than 10% of this subspecies' habitat remains intact after extensive loss to crop cultivation, particularly in the Overberg around Caledon. A large proportion of this subspecies' habitat was also lost to flooding after the construction of the Theewaterskloof Dam. Remaining subpopulations continue to be threatened by ongoing habitat loss to urban expansion around Caledon and Franschhoek, and expanding agriculture across this subspecies' range. Remaining fragments are often too steep or rocky to plough, but these sites are then subjected to severe overgrazing by livestock. Unmanaged alien invasive plants are also causing further decline at a number of known locations. |
Population |
The population has been fragmented due to 90% habitat loss, and all known remaining subpopulations occur on small, isolated fragments of renosterveld. Recent records indicate that there are at least six subpopulations remaining, scattered across this subspecies' former range, and it is possible that up to 10 may still survive, as not all remaining fragments in areas of historical records have yet been surveyed. It continues to decline due to ongoing habitat loss and degradation.
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Population trend | Decreasing |
Assessment History |
Taxon assessed |
Status and Criteria |
Citation/Red List version | | Sparaxis grandiflora (D.Delaroche) Ker Gawl. subsp. violacea (Eckl.) Goldblatt | EN B1ab(i,ii,iii,iv,v)+2ab(i,ii,iii,iv,v) | 2015.1 | | Sparaxis grandiflora (D.Delaroche) Ker Gawl. subsp. violacea (Eckl.) Goldblatt | Least Concern | Raimondo et al. (2009) | |
Bibliography |
Goldblatt, P. and Manning, J.C. 2013. Systematics and biology of the Cape genus Sparaxis (Iridaceae). Strelitzia 32. 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 |
| Goldblatt, P., Manning, J.C., von Staden, L. & Patel, T. 2023. Sparaxis grandiflora (D.Delaroche) Ker Gawl. subsp. violacea (Eckl.) Goldblatt. National Assessment: Red List of South African Plants version . Accessed on 2025/05/08 |
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