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Scientific Name | Watsonia mtamvunae Goldblatt |
Higher Classification | Monocotyledons |
Family | IRIDACEAE |
National Status |
Status and Criteria | Vulnerable D2 |
Assessment Date | 2008/06/30 |
Assessor(s) | D. Raimondo & L. von Staden |
Justification | EOO 190 km², a rare species that occurs as single or scattered individuals within a specialized habitat, and known from three to six subpopulations. AOO estimated <20 km². Known from within the Umtamvuna Nature Reserve, but quite likely occurred at least within the immediate surrounding areas in the past, which is now extensively transformed by agriculture and timber plantations. The former range and timing of declines are unknown and this species cannot be listed using A criterion. Although the population is protected from further habitat destruction, a potential threat stems from excessive water extraction by gum plantations outside the reserve boundaries negatively affecting its moist seepage habitats. |
Distribution |
Endemism | South African endemic |
Provincial distribution | KwaZulu-Natal |
Range | Umtamvuna Nature Reserve. |
Habitat and Ecology |
Major system | Terrestrial |
Major habitats | Moist Coast Hinterland Grassland, Pondoland-Ugu Sandstone Coastal Sourveld |
Description | Pondoland coastal grassland, Msikaba Formation Sandstone, near, but not in seepage sites. |
Threats |
| This species is only known from within the Umtamvuna Nature Reserve, but quite likely occurred at least within the immediate surrounding areas in the past, which is now extensively transformed by agriculture and timber plantations. The former range is, however, not known, and declines probably occurred over a period longer than three generations. Agricultural expansion has taken place over at least the last 50-80 years and the generation length of this species is not likely to be more than 10 years, therefore, listing under A criterion based on past declines is not possible. Existing subpopulations are all protected within the reserve, however, gum plantations just outside the reserve boundaries above some subpopulations might affect the water flow dynamics of the grassland seepages on which this species appears to be dependent. |
Population |
Population trend | Stable |
Conservation |
| Protected in Umtamvuna Nature Reserve. |
Assessment History |
Taxon assessed |
Status and Criteria |
Citation/Red List version | | Watsonia mtamvunae Goldblatt | VU D2 | Raimondo et al. (2009) | | Watsonia mtamvunae Goldblatt | VU | Scott-Shaw (1999) | | Watsonia mtamvunae Goldblatt | Rare | Hilton-Taylor (1996) | |
Bibliography |
Abbott, A., Van Wyk, A.E., Johnson, D.N. and Scott-Shaw, C.R. 2000. Checklist of the macrofungi, lichens, bryophytes and vascular plants of the Umtamvuna Nature Reserve, South Africa. Lammergeyer 46:1-69.
Goldblatt, P. 1989. The genus Watsonia. A systematic monograph. Annals of Kirstenbosch Botanic Gardens 19:1-148. National Botanic Gardens, Cape Town.
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.
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 |
| Raimondo, D. & von Staden, L. 2008. Watsonia mtamvunae Goldblatt. National Assessment: Red List of South African Plants version . Accessed on 2025/05/09 |
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