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Scientific Name | Erica bakeri T.M.Salter |
Higher Classification | Dicotyledons |
Family | ERICACEAE |
National Status |
Status and Criteria | Critically Endangered B1ab(i,ii,iii,iv,v)+2ab(i,ii,iii,iv,v); C2a(ii); D |
Assessment Date | 2012/08/09 |
Assessor(s) | R.C. Turner, E.G.H. Oliver, L. von Staden & I. Ebrahim |
Justification | A small population at one known location that occurs in an area smaller than 1 km² is declining due to ongoing degradation of its wetland habitat. Fewer than 50 plants were recorded in the 1990s, but when the site was last visited in 2008, no surviving mature individuals could be found. The population could still recover if invasive alien plants are cleared and the site is better managed for the conservation of a number of threatened species present at this location. It therefore qualifies as Critically Endangered under criteria B,C and D. |
Distribution |
Endemism | South African endemic |
Provincial distribution | Western Cape |
Range | This species is found in Wemmershoek Vlei. |
Habitat and Ecology |
Major system | Terrestrial |
Major habitats | Swartland Alluvium Fynbos |
Description | Plants grow in wetland areas on alluvial sandy flats. |
Threats |
| The only known location falls within a forestry plantation, and part of the site was formerly planted up with exotic pine trees, while the rest of the wetland was severely infested with alien invasive plants. Due to the presence of numerous threatened species, the wetland was declared a Natural Heritage Site in 1995. The plantations were removed, and some alien clearing was done, and the site was to be transferred to come under the management of the local provincial conservation authority. However, this transfer has not yet been finalized, and in the mean time alien plants have reinvaded the wetland, and at present it is in a severely degraded state and drying up due to the high water requirements of alien plants and surrounding plantations (I. Ebrahim, pers. obs.). In addition, the forestry company who owns the site now want to re-establish timber plantations at the site. |
Population |
Erica bakeri has been known since its discovery from a single wetland, where plants occur in very low numbers. In the 1990s, between 20 and 30 plants were recorded at the site, and the species was last observed in 2000. When the site was last visited in 2008, no plants could be found (I. Ebrahim pers. comm. 2012). Alien clearing and burning is needed to stimulate regeneration of plants from soil stored seeds.
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Population trend | Decreasing |
Assessment History |
Taxon assessed |
Status and Criteria |
Citation/Red List version | | Erica bakeri T.M.Salter | CR B1ab(iii)+2ab(iii) | Raimondo et al. (2009) | | Erica bakeri T.M.Salter | Endangered | Hilton-Taylor (1996) | | Erica bakeri T.M.Salter | 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.
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Citation |
| Turner, R.C., Oliver, E.G.H., von Staden, L. & Ebrahim, I. 2012. Erica bakeri T.M.Salter. National Assessment: Red List of South African Plants version . Accessed on 2024/10/08 |
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