|
Scientific Name | Maytenus abbottii A.E.van Wyk |
Higher Classification | Dicotyledons |
Family | CELASTRACEAE |
Common Names | Klip-sybas (a), Pondo Silky-bark (e), Pondo-sybas (a), Rock Silky Bark (e) |
National Status |
Status and Criteria | Endangered B1ab(iii,v); C2a(i) |
Assessment Date | 2007/11/27 |
Assessor(s) | A.T.D. Abbott, J.E. Victor & L. von Staden |
Justification | Formerly widespread in KwaZulu-Natal and the Pondoland region but now very rare, with only eight small, isolated subpopulations known in Pondoland forests. There is a continuing decline in the number of mature individuals and habitat quality at two known subpopulations in southern KwaZulu-Natal, as a result of firewood harvesting. The current EOO is 2200 km². There are six to 10 known locations, and subpopulations (consisting of about 10 mature individuals each) are severely fragmented. The total population is estimated to be fewer than 1000 mature individuals. |
Distribution |
Endemism | South African endemic |
Provincial distribution | Eastern Cape, KwaZulu-Natal |
Range | Oribi Gorge to Port St. Johns. |
Habitat and Ecology |
Major system | Terrestrial |
Major habitats | Northern Coastal Forest, Scarp Forest |
Description | Pondoland scarp forest, along stream banks on sandstone, 300-400 m. |
Threats |
| The Izotsha Falls and Uvongo River tributary subpopulations occur in tiny forest fragments, each only 5-10 ha (less than 0.1 km²) amidst densely populated rural areas. Van Wyk (1984) reports that these forests are being severely degraded by indiscriminate firewood harvesting. These sites need to be revisited to determine whether the subpopulations still exist.
Further south in the Pondoland region this species is not seriously threatened. Although forest margins are declining due to wood harvesting and too frequent and intense fires, riverine forests within gorges and ravines are fairly well isolated from these threats (T. Abbott pers. comm.). |
Population |
Subpopulations have less than 20 individuals (Scott-Shaw 1999), with the population consisting of less than 1000 mature individuals in total (T. Abbott pers. comm.).
|
Population trend | Decreasing |
Conservation |
| Protected in the Oribi Gorge, Umtamvuna, Mkambati and Silaka Nature Reserves. |
Assessment History |
Taxon assessed |
Status and Criteria |
Citation/Red List version | | Maytenus abbottii A.E.van Wyk | EN B1ab(iii,v); C2a(i) | Raimondo et al. (2009) | | Maytenus abbottii A.E.van Wyk | VU | Scott-Shaw (1999) | | Maytenus abbottii A.E.van Wyk | Vulnerable | Hilton-Taylor (1996) | |
Bibliography |
Boon, R. 2010. Pooley's Trees of eastern South Africa. Flora and Fauna Publications Trust, Durban.
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.
Scott-Shaw, C.R. 1999. Rare and threatened plants of KwaZulu-Natal and neighbouring regions. KwaZulu-Natal Nature Conservation Service, Pietermaritzburg.
Van Wyk, A.E. 1984. A new species of Maytenus (Celastraceae) from southern Natal. South African Journal of Botany 3(2):115-119.
|
Citation |
| Abbott, A.T.D., Victor, J.E. & von Staden, L. 2007. Maytenus abbottii A.E.van Wyk. National Assessment: Red List of South African Plants version . Accessed on 2025/04/10 |
Comment on this assessment
