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Scientific Name | Moraea vuvuzela Goldblatt & J.C.Manning |
Higher Classification | Monocotyledons |
Family | IRIDACEAE |
National Status |
Status and Criteria | Endangered B1ab(ii,iii,v)+2ab(ii,iii,v) |
Assessment Date | 2011/03/16 |
Assessor(s) | A. le Roux, I. Ebrahim & L. von Staden |
Justification | A recently discovered, range-restricted (EOO 7 km²) habitat specialist that has declined extensively due to habitat loss to crop cultivation and dam construction. Three remaining subpopulations at two known locations continue to decline due to ongoing habitat loss to erosion. |
Distribution |
Endemism | South African endemic |
Provincial distribution | Western Cape |
Range | Worcester, near Brandvlei. |
Habitat and Ecology |
Major system | Terrestrial |
Major habitats | Breede Shale Renosterveld, Elgin Shale Fynbos, Breede Sand Fynbos |
Description | Renosterveld, in loamy clay soils on flats and lower slopes, preferring cooler south to south-east facing slopes. |
Threats |
| Moraea vuvuzela's low lying, loamy clay habitat is considered most ideal for crop cultivation and it is highly likely that a large proportion of this species' population was already lost to agriculture in the past. The construction of two major dams have also caused significant habitat loss before this species was described. A historical record from 1937 indicates that it also occurred in the Theewaterskloof area between Franschhoek and Villiersdorp, but the population here is quite likely lost to the construction of the Theewaterskloof Dam. Two of the three known subpopulations occur right on the edge of the Brandvlei and Kwaggaskloof dams, where they are threatened by erosion of their habitat when the dams are filled to capacity and strong winds cause soil banks above the water's edge to collapse. Local researcher Anso le Roux, who discovered the species, has lost a number of her research plots around the dam to erosion. |
Population |
When first encountered, the species appeared to be very rare. A controlled burn however stimulated flowering in dormant plants and the population at the type locality consists of many thousands of plants. There are currently three known existing subpopulations. A continuing decline has been observed due to erosion of the habitat.
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Population trend | Decreasing |
Assessment History |
Taxon assessed |
Status and Criteria |
Citation/Red List version | | Moraea vuvuzela Goldblatt & J.C.Manning | EN B1ab(ii,iii,v)+2ab(ii,iii,v) | 2011.1 | |
Bibliography |
Goldblatt, P. and Manning, J.C. 2010. Moraea intermedia and Moraea vuvuzela (Iridaceae-Iridoideae), two new species fro western South Africa, and some nomenclatural changes and range extensions in the genus. Bothalia 40(2):147-153.
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Citation |
| le Roux, A., Ebrahim, I. & von Staden, L. 2011. Moraea vuvuzela Goldblatt & J.C.Manning. National Assessment: Red List of South African Plants version . Accessed on 2025/05/18 |
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