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Scientific Name | Freesia laxa (Thunb.) Goldblatt & J.C.Manning subsp. azurea (Goldblatt & Hutchings) Goldblatt |
Higher Classification | Monocotyledons |
Family | IRIDACEAE |
Synonyms | Anomatheca laxa (Thunb.) Goldblatt (in part), Anomatheca laxa (Thunb.) Goldblatt subsp. azurea Goldblatt & Hutchings |
Common Names | Natal Bloupypie (a) |
National Status |
Status and Criteria | Vulnerable A4c; B2ab(i,ii,iii,iv,v) |
Assessment Date | 2021/09/28 |
Assessor(s) | L. von Staden & T. Patel |
Justification | This subspecies has a narrow distribution within South Africa, with an extent of occurrence (EOO) of 40 360 km², and an area of occupancy (AOO) of 176 km². It is known from 10 remaining locations, and is threatened by expanding settlements, forestry plantations, crop cultivation and overgrazing. A population reduction of 40% is likely to be met within the next 10 years based on an ongoing rate of 26% loss over the past 13 years (generation length 10 years). It is therefore listed as Vulnerable under criteria A and B. |
Distribution |
Endemism | Not endemic to South Africa |
Provincial distribution | KwaZulu-Natal |
Range | It is found in the coastal habitats between Richards Bay in northern KwaZulu-Natal and Massinga in central Mozambique. |
Habitat and Ecology |
Major system | Terrestrial |
Major habitats | Northern Coastal Forest, Maputaland Coastal Belt, Maputaland Wooded Grassland, Swamp Forest |
Description | It occurs in grassy dunes or light shade along margins of coastal forests. |
Threats |
| Habitat loss, fragmentation and degradation as a result of expanding human settlements, forestry plantations, clearing of indigenous forests for agriculture, too frequent fire and severe overgrazing all threaten this subspecies. Its habitat has declined by 52% (calculated using landcover data in GIS), and at this rate of loss there is likely to be no remaining natural habitat outside protected areas in the near future. Even within protected areas, such as the Greater St Lucia Wetland Park, little natural areas remain as much consist of rehabilitated former timber plantations. |
Population |
The population is known from ten extant locations, and has a decreasing trend.
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Population trend | Decreasing |
Assessment History |
Taxon assessed |
Status and Criteria |
Citation/Red List version | | Freesia laxa (Thunb.) Goldblatt & J.C.Manning subsp. azurea (Goldblatt & Hutchings) Goldblatt & J.C.Manning | Least Concern | 2012.1 | | Freesia laxa (Thunb.) Goldblatt & J.C.Manning subsp. azurea (Goldblatt & Hutchings) Goldblatt & J.C.Manning | Least Concern | Raimondo et al. (2009) | | Freesia laxa (Thunb.) Goldblatt & J.C.Manning subsp. azurea (Goldblatt & Hutchings) Goldblatt & J.C.Manning | Lower Risk - Least Concern | Scott-Shaw (1999) | |
Bibliography |
Manning, J.C. and Goldblatt, P. 2010. Botany and horticulture of the genus Freesia. Strelitzia 27:1-114. 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.
Scott-Shaw, C.R. 1999. Rare and threatened plants of KwaZulu-Natal and neighbouring regions. KwaZulu-Natal Nature Conservation Service, Pietermaritzburg.
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Citation |
| von Staden, L. & Patel, T. 2021. Freesia laxa (Thunb.) Goldblatt & J.C.Manning subsp. azurea (Goldblatt & Hutchings) Goldblatt. National Assessment: Red List of South African Plants version . Accessed on 2024/09/15 |
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