|
Scientific Name | Erica jasminiflora Salisb. |
Higher Classification | Dicotyledons |
Family | ERICACEAE |
Common Names | Jasmine Heath (e), Trompet-heath (a), Trompet-heide (a) |
National Status |
Status and Criteria | Critically Endangered B1ab(iii,v)+2ab(iii,v) |
Assessment Date | 2011/06/08 |
Assessor(s) | R.C. Turner, I. Ebrahim & D. Raimondo |
Justification | This species was thought to be on the verge of extinction in 2009. At the time, its only known location saw a decline of 80-90% in number of mature individuals over the past three generations (30 years). Fewer than 10 individuals remained in the wild. Decline was due to a combination of habitat loss to infrastructure development, severe infestation of alien plants, and loss of pollinators. Fortunately, in 2010 a new subpopulation was discovered 10 km from the first. This subpopulation numbers over 2 000 individuals, and although invasive alien plants are present, the landowner is conducting ongoing alien clearing. This species remains Critically Endangered as its EOO is less than 10 km² and it is known from only two, severely fragmented subpopulations, one of which is declining. |
Distribution |
Endemism | South African endemic |
Provincial distribution | Western Cape |
Range | Caledon district. |
Habitat and Ecology |
Major system | Terrestrial |
Major habitats | Elim Ferricrete Fynbos |
Description | Fynbos, in loamy, gravely, ferricrete soils on lowland hill slopes. |
Threats |
| This species is known historically to have occurred from Caledon to Shaw's Pass, but it is now locally extinct over most of this area due to extensive habitat loss to wheat cultivation. Since the 1970s, this species was only known from one small subpopulation at Shaw's Pass.
Part of the subpopulation at Shaw's Pass was lost due to road construction. Plants remained in a small fragment severely infested by alien invasive Eucalyptus, Pinus and Hakea spp. The land, a municipal commonage, was also used for grazing of cattle. Many efforts over the years to secure this site for conservation and get the alien plants cleared have failed. There is also evidence that plants were harvested (possibly for cut flowers), which put additional strain on the already extremely small subpopulation. Poor reproduction, possibly due to the loss of pollinators, also led to the Shaw's Pass subpopulation declining to the brink of extinction.
The subpopulation discovered in 2010 is also threatened by alien plant infestation, but alien plants are being cleared. |
Population |
When the subpopulation at Shaw's Pass was first monitored in 1977, there were 150 plants. These declined to 15 plants in 1982, and in 1985 there were no plants to be found. Attempts to reintroduce plants from seed failed. After a fire, however, 70-80 plants were recorded in 1994. These declined again to 15 plants in 1998. In 2003 there were three plants and by 2005 all had disappeared again. After another fire, 10 plants were recorded in 2006, but these declined rapidly to two plants in 2009. This subpopulation still remains on the brink of extinction.
Fortunately a large subpopulation of about 2 000 mature individuals was discovered about 10 km from Shaw's Pass in 2010.
|
Population trend | Decreasing |
Conservation |
| Not currently conserved in any formally protected area. |
Assessment History |
Taxon assessed |
Status and Criteria |
Citation/Red List version | | Erica jasminiflora Salisb. | CR A2ac; B1ab(iii,v)+2ab(iii,v); C2a(ii)b; D | Raimondo et al. (2009) | | Erica jasminiflora Salisb. | Endangered | Hilton-Taylor (1996) | | Erica jasminiflora Salisb. | Endangered | 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.
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., Ebrahim, I. & Raimondo, D. 2011. Erica jasminiflora Salisb. National Assessment: Red List of South African Plants version . Accessed on 2025/05/18 |
Comment on this assessment
