| Scientific Name | Moraea loubseri Goldblatt | Higher Classification | Monocotyledons | Family | IRIDACEAE | Common Names | Spinnekopflappie (a) |
National Status | Status and Criteria | Critically Endangered B1ab(i,ii,iii,iv,v)+2ab(i,ii,iii,iv,v); C2a(i,ii); D | Assessment Date | 2011/10/04 | Assessor(s) | R. Koopman, L. von Staden, D.A. Snijman & C. von Witt | Justification | Moraea loubseri has declined extensively since its discovery in the early 1970s after a large section of the granite outcrop, which to date is still the only known location for this species, was lost to quarrying. Since 1995 the remaining population consisted of less than 10 mature individuals, and between 2004 and 2008 no flowering plants could be found and the species was feared to be extinct in the wild. Fortunately, two flowering individuals were seen at the site in September 2011. It is therefore listed as Critically Endangered under criteria B, C and D. |
Distribution | Endemism | South African endemic | Provincial distribution | Western Cape | Range | This species is found in Langebaan. |
Habitat and Ecology | Major system | Terrestrial | Major habitats | Saldanha Granite Strandveld | Description | Plants grow in granite outcrop on sandy, granite-derived soils. |
Threats | | At the time of Moraea loubseri's discovery in the early 1970s, the granite outcrop, which is to date still the only known location for this species, was earmarked for quarrying. More than 80% of the site has been destroyed through quarrying, which caused extensive declines in the population. The remainder of the site was also severely degraded by severe overgrazing by goats and sheep, but the livestock has been removed. By 1995 only a few plants remained within a few square metres, and concerns were expressed regarding genetic deterioration of the remaining population (ISEP unpublished data). In 2002 it was noted that burrowing porcupines were disturbing remaining plants, and that this disturbance was suspected to be destructive and a cause of further decline (Ebrahim et al. 2005). In 2013, a few more plants were found in an area that is to be developed for a housing estate. |
Population | Known since its discovery in 1973 from a single granite outcrop near Langebaan, and the population was described as 'plentiful' in 1974 (Goldblatt 1977). An exhaustive search of nearby granite outcrops failed to record any further subpopulations. By 1981, the species was established in cultivation, but thought to be extinct in the wild (Duncan 1981). Monitoring by the local conservation authority recorded that only a few plants remained in an area of a few square metres after most of the granite outcrop was lost to quarrying (ISEP unpublished data). Three flowering plants were observed in 2002, but repeated surveys by members of Custodians of Rare and Endangered Wildflowers (CREW) between 2004 and 2008 failed to record any flowering individuals (Ebrahim et al. 2005). In September 2011, two flowering individuals were recorded at the type locality (R. Koopman pers. obs.). Another count in 2013, recorded 25 plants in three small clumps (J.G. Claassens pers. comm. 2014).
| Population trend | Decreasing |
Assessment History |
Taxon assessed |
Status and Criteria |
Citation/Red List version | | Moraea loubseri Goldblatt | Critically Endangered (Possibly Extinct) | 2011.1 | | Moraea loubseri Goldblatt | Critically Endangered (Possibly Extinct) | Raimondo et al. (2009) | | Moraea loubseri Goldblatt | Endangered | Hilton-Taylor (1996) | | Moraea loubseri Goldblatt | Extinct | Hall et al. (1980) | |
Bibliography | Duncan, G. 1981. Moraea loubseri Goldbl. - saved through cultivation. Veld & Flora 67(1):18-19.
Duncan, G.D. 1997. Moraeas of the Western Cape. Veld & Flora 83(2):42-44.
Ebrahim, I., Von Witt, C. and Cohen, C. 2005. Peacocks, ploughs and porcupines. Veld & Flora 91(4):185-187.
Goldblatt, P. 1977. Moraea loubseri - and exciting new species doomed to extinction? Veld & Flora 63(3):15-16.
Goldblatt, P. 1986. The Moraeas of Southern Africa: a systematic monograph of the genus in South Africa, Lesotho, Swaziland, Transkei, Botswana, Namibia, and Zimbabwe. Annals of Kirstenbosch Botanic Gardens 14:1-224. National Botanic Gardens in association with the Missouri Botanical Garden, USA, Cape Town.
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.
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.
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 | | Koopman, R., von Staden, L., Snijman, D.A. & von Witt, C. 2011. Moraea loubseri Goldblatt. National Assessment: Red List of South African Plants version . Accessed on 2025/04/19 |
 Comment on this assessment
|
 © R. Koopman  © C. Paterson-Jones
Search for images of Moraea loubseri on iNaturalist
|
