Taxonomy
Scientific Name
Erica hibbertii Andrews
Higher Classification
Dicotyledons
Family
ERICACEAE
National Status
Status and Criteria
Critically Endangered B1ab(iii,v); C2a(i); D
Assessment Date
2011/06/07
Assessor(s)
R.C. Turner, E.G.H. Oliver & E. Marinus
Justification
EOO 69 km², three small, severely fragmented subpopulations and fewer than 50 mature individuals remain, and is declining as a result of alien plant invasion. In addition, there was a 30% decline in the Franschhoek Pass subpopulation as a result of road expansion over the past 20 years.
Distribution
Endemism
South African endemic
Provincial distribution
Western Cape
Range
Franschhoek Pass to Stettynsberg.
Habitat and Ecology
Major system
Terrestrial
Major habitats
Hawequas Sandstone Fynbos
Description
Among rocks, in crevices and small pockets of soil.
Threats
The subpopulation on Franschhoek Pass was severely reduced by the construction of the road through the pass, and in recent times by widening of the existing road, and erosion of the habitat of plants above steep road cuttings is causing a continuing decline. A population reduction of at least 30% is estimated due to road construction and erosion. Too frequent fire is another threat: mountains around the Franschhoek Pass have burnt twice in the past six years. Plants on the Stettynsberg and near Villiersdorp are threatened by alien invasive Hakea and Pinus spp., as well as too frequent fire.
Population

Twenty five plants occur at the base of Franschhoek Pass (counted by Custodians of Rare and Endangered Wildflowers (CREW) volunteers), approximately five plants at Stettynsberg, and 20 at Villiersdorp. Monitoring between the 1980s and 2003 recorded a 30% decline in the Franschhoek Pass subpopulation as a result of road construction and widening.


Population trend
Decreasing
Assessment History
Taxon assessed
Status and Criteria
Citation/Red List version
Erica hibbertii AndrewsCR B1ab(iii,v)+2ab(iii,v); C2a(i); DRaimondo et al. (2009)
Erica hibbertii AndrewsVulnerable Hilton-Taylor (1996)
Erica hibbertii AndrewsIndeterminate Hall et al. (1980)
Bibliography

Baker, H.A. and Oliver, E.G.H. 1967. Ericas in southern Africa. Purnell, Cape Town & Johannesburg.


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.


Oliver, E.G.H. and Oliver, I.M. 2002. The genus Erica (Ericaceae) in southern Africa: taxonomic notes 1. Bothalia 32(1):37-61.


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.


Citation
Turner, R.C., Oliver, E.G.H. & Marinus, E. 2011. Erica hibbertii Andrews. National Assessment: Red List of South African Plants version . Accessed on 2025/05/11

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Distribution map

© R. Koopman

© R. Koopman


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