Taxonomy
Scientific Name
Pelargonium greytonense J.J.A.van der Walt
Higher Classification
Dicotyledons
Family
GERANIACEAE
National Status
Status and Criteria
Vulnerable B1ab(iii)+2ab(iii)
Assessment Date
2019/03/28
Assessor(s)
L. von Staden
Justification
A highly range-restricted species (EOO 34 km²) known from seven locations and declining due to competition from alien invasive plants.
Distribution
Endemism
South African endemic
Provincial distribution
Western Cape
Range
Southern Slopes of the Riviersonderend Mountains.
Habitat and Ecology
Major system
Terrestrial
Major habitats
South Sonderend Sandstone Fynbos
Description
Ravines on south facing sandstone slopes.
Threats
The lower southern slopes of the Riviersonderend Mountains have been converted to timber plantations, but plantations are largely confined to richer shale soils, and is thus unlikely to have significantly impacted this species. There has been no new plantations established since 1990, but escaped pine seedlings have been spreading across the southern sandstone slopes of the Riviersonderend Mountains around Greyton and Genadendal to such an extent that the lower slopes are now entirely covered in alien invasive pines, that are outcompeting native species. Towards the eastern side of the Riviersonderend Mountains invasive pines are not yet as dense, but continue to spread.
Population

This species was said to be common on the south-facing slopes of the Riviersonderend Mountains in the 1980s (Van der Walt 1984). There are few recent records, and localities known through historical records need to be resurveyed. A continuing population decline is inferred from ongoing spread of alien invasive pines.


Population trend
Decreasing
Assessment History
Taxon assessed
Status and Criteria
Citation/Red List version
Pelargonium greytonense J.J.A.van der WaltLeast Concern Raimondo et al. (2009)
Bibliography

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.


Van der Walt, J.J.A. 1984. A new species of Pelargonium (Geraniaceae) from the south-western Cape. South African Journal of Botany 3(4):256-258.


Van der Walt, J.J.A. and Vorster, P.J. 1988. Pelargoniums of southern Africa Volume III. Annals of Kirstenbosch Botanic Garden 16:1-149. National Botanic Gardens, Kirstenbosch.


Citation
von Staden, L. 2019. Pelargonium greytonense J.J.A.van der Walt. National Assessment: Red List of South African Plants version 2020.1. Accessed on 2023/12/04

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Distribution map


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