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Scientific Name | Sparaxis grandiflora (D.Delaroche) Ker Gawl. subsp. grandiflora |
Higher Classification | Monocotyledons |
Family | IRIDACEAE |
Synonyms | Ixia aristata Thunb. var. atropurpurea Andrews, Ixia grandiflora D.Delaroche, Ixia holosericea Jacq., Ixia uniflora L., Sparaxis atropurpurea Klatt: 389 (1882), superfluous name for Ixia holosericea Jacq., Sparaxis meleagris Eckl., Sparaxis stellaris D.Don |
Common Names | Botterblom (a), Ferweelblom (a), Ferweeltjie (a), Grand Satinflower (e), Perskalossie (a), Witkalossie (a) |
National Status |
Status and Criteria | Endangered B1ab(ii,iii,v)+2ab(ii,iii,v) |
Assessment Date | 2023/07/25 |
Assessor(s) | D. Raimondo, I. Ebrahim, L. von Staden & T. Patel |
Justification | This subspecies has an extent of occurrence (EOO) of 612 km², and an area of occupancy (AOO) of 128 km². Between four and eight small, severely fragmented subpopulations remain after it has lost 80% of its habitat to agricultural expansion. This subspecies continues to decline due to ongoing habitat loss, degradation and 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 South Africa and is essentially restricted to the Tulbagh Valley in Western Cape, with a single collection from Voelvlei just west of the Elandskloof mountains and outside the Tulbagh Valley. |
Habitat and Ecology |
Major system | Terrestrial |
Major habitats | Swartland Shale Renosterveld, Breede Shale Renosterveld, Breede Shale Fynbos, Swartland Alluvium Fynbos, Breede Alluvium Fynbos |
Description | It occurs in heavy clay at low elevations on habitats now largely given over to agriculture, burning or clearing of the veld stimulates flowering. |
Threats |
| Less than 20% of this subspecies' renosterveld habitat remains intact after extensive loss to agricultural expansion, predominantly vineyards. This resulted in a large reduction and fragmentation of the once extensive population. Habitat loss continues sporadically. Field observations also recorded dense, unmanaged alien invasive plants threatening remaining individuals at 50% of remaining locations. |
Population |
This subspecies has a localized distribution within the Tulbagh Valley, where it probably formerly occurred as one large, continuous subpopulation. Based on >80% habitat loss, it is suspected that the population has declined by 50-80%, but over a period longer than three generations. A systematic survey of remaining renosterveld fragments in the Tulbagh Valley between 2005 and 2013 recorded subspecies grandiflora on nine fragments. As some of these fragments are within close proximity, it is estimated that plants remain in between four and eight subpopulations, and subpopulations are generally small, the largest consisting of around 500 mature individuals. According to Goldblatt and Manning (2013), it is difficult to find viable subpopulations of this formerly abundant subspecies in the Tulbagh Valley today. Its remaining habitat is poorly protected, and 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. grandiflora | EN B1ab(ii,iii,v) | Raimondo et al. (2009) | | Sparaxis grandiflora (D.Delaroche) Ker Gawl. subsp. grandiflora | Rare | Hilton-Taylor (1996) | |
Bibliography |
De Vos, M.P. 1999. Ixia. In: O.A. Leistner (ed). Flora of Southern Africa 7 Iridaceae Part 2: Ixioideae, Fascicle 1: Ixieae:3-87. National Botanical Institute, Pretoria.
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.
Hilton-Taylor, C. 1996. Red data list of southern African plants. Strelitzia 4. South African National Botanical 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 |
| Raimondo, D., Ebrahim, I., von Staden, L. & Patel, T. 2023. Sparaxis grandiflora (D.Delaroche) Ker Gawl. subsp. grandiflora. National Assessment: Red List of South African Plants version . Accessed on 2025/05/09 |
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