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Scientific Name | Dioscorea rupicola Kunth |
Higher Classification | Monocotyledons |
Family | DIOSCOREACEAE |
Common Names | Impinyampinya (z), Inkwa (z) |
National Status |
Status and Criteria | Least Concern |
Assessment Date | 2016/08/16 |
Assessor(s) | P. Wilkin, M. Muasya & L. von Staden |
Justification | Dioscorea rupicola is a widespread (EOO 71 943 km²) and common species that is not in danger of extinction. |
Distribution |
Endemism | South African endemic |
Provincial distribution | Eastern Cape, KwaZulu-Natal |
Range | Ngome to the KwaZulu-Natal Midlands and Drakensberg foothills, extending to the Eastern Cape Drakensberg around Hogsback. |
Habitat and Ecology |
Major system | Terrestrial |
Major habitats | Forest, Grassland, Savanna |
Description | Forest margins and clearings in forests, as well as riparian scrub in kloofs. It occurs predominantly in moist loamy soils on shaded east and south-facing slopes. |
Threats |
This species' habitat is generally well-protected, particularly in the Drakensberg. There may have been some habitat disturbance in areas where timber plantations have been planted right up to the margins of indigenous forests, but this is not suspected to have caused significant declines. Some forest margins, particularly in disturbed areas are invaded by alien invasive plants. Dioscorea species have known medicinal properties, and many species are collected for traditional medicine. Little is however known about the impact of medicinal harvesting on this species. |
Population |
A widespread and common species. The population is not suspected to be declining.
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Population trend | Stable |
Assessment History |
Taxon assessed |
Status and Criteria |
Citation/Red List version | Dioscorea rupicola Kunth | Least Concern | Raimondo et al. (2009) | |
Bibliography |
Pooley, E. 2003. Mountain flowers: a field guide to the flora of the Drakensberg and Lesotho. Natal Flora Publications Trust, Durban.
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.
Wilkin, P. and Muasya, A.M. 2015. Clarifying the Dioscorea buchananii Benth. species complex: a new potentially extinct subspecies for South Africa. PhytoKeys 48:51-72.
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Citation |
Wilkin, P., Muasya, M. & von Staden, L. 2016. Dioscorea rupicola Kunth. National Assessment: Red List of South African Plants version . Accessed on 2025/02/11 |