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Scientific Name | Erica ferrea P.J.Bergius |
Higher Classification | Dicotyledons |
Family | ERICACEAE |
Synonyms | Erica crenata E.Mey. ex Benth., Erica mucosa L. |
National Status |
Status and Criteria | Near Threatened B1ab(i,ii,iii,iv,v)+2ab(i,ii,iii,iv,v) |
Assessment Date | 2012/09/04 |
Assessor(s) | E.G.H. Oliver, R.C. Turner & L. von Staden |
Justification | Habitat loss and degradation has reduced this formerly abundant species' Extent of Occurrence from 2415 km² to 916 km². It is now locally extinct on the Cape Flats, but many recent records indicate that it is still fairly common between Yzerfontein, Bloubergstrand and Malmesbury, occurring at 14 locations but continuing to decline due to ongoing habitat loss and degradation. |
Distribution |
Endemism | South African endemic |
Provincial distribution | Western Cape |
Range | Yzerfontein to Malmesbury and the Cape Flats. |
Habitat and Ecology |
Major system | Terrestrial |
Major habitats | Swartland Silcrete Renosterveld, Cape Flats Sand Fynbos, Atlantis Sand Fynbos, Hopefield Sand Fynbos |
Description | Sandy flats. |
Threats |
| Agriculture, urban and industrial expansion, habitat fragmentation and degradation has caused the local extinction of this species on the Cape Flats, where it was last recorded in 1979. The most severe threat to remaining subpopulations is extensive, dense infestations of alien invasive wattles, while ongoing habitat loss to developments and agricultural expansion are causing sporadic losses. |
Population |
Erica ferrea is a formerly abundant species, and historical records indicate that it occurred across the sandy plains of the southern part of the Cape West Coast, Cape Town and around False Bay. It is now locally extinct in the southern part of its range between Muizenberg, Table View, Kraaifontein and Eersterivier, and the remaining population is currently confined to a small area between Yzerfontein, Malmesbury and Bloubergstrand, where many recent records indicate that it is still fairly common despite much of its habitat being severely degraded.
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Population trend | Decreasing |
Assessment History |
Taxon assessed |
Status and Criteria |
Citation/Red List version | | Erica ferrea P.J.Bergius | EN B1ab(i,ii,iii,iv,v) | 2012.1 | | Erica ferrea P.J.Bergius | EN B1ab(i,ii,iii,iv,v) | Raimondo et al. (2009) | | Erica ferrea P.J.Bergius | Vulnerable | Hilton-Taylor (1996) | | Erica ferrea P.J.Bergius | Vulnerable | Hall et al. (1980) | |
Bibliography |
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.
Schumann, D., Kirsten, G. and Oliver, E.G.H. 1992. Ericas of South Africa. Fernwood Press, Cape Town.
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Citation |
| Oliver, E.G.H., Turner, R.C. & von Staden, L. 2012. Erica ferrea P.J.Bergius. National Assessment: Red List of South African Plants version . Accessed on 2025/05/09 |
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