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Scientific Name | Kniphofia ichopensis Schinz var. aciformis Codd |
Higher Classification | Monocotyledons |
Family | ASPHODELACEAE |
Common Names | Needle-leaved Poker (e) |
National Status |
Status and Criteria | Data Deficient - Insufficient Information |
Assessment Date | 2015/08/11 |
Assessor(s) | H. Mtshali & L. von Staden |
Justification | A poorly known, and possibly threatened taxon, but also potentially overlooked and more common than records indicate. Based on available data, its risk of extinction cannot be assessed. |
Distribution |
Endemism | South African endemic |
Provincial distribution | KwaZulu-Natal |
Range | Drakensberg foothills between Mooi River and Bulwer. |
Habitat and Ecology |
Major system | Terrestrial |
Major habitats | Grassland |
Description | Steep, south-facing slopes in Drakensberg Foothill Moist Grassland. |
Threats |
| Parts of Drakensberg Foothill Moist Grassland have been lost to timber plantations, and the subpopulation at the type locality is possibly already locally extinct due to habitat loss to plantations, and associated spread of unmanaged, invasive pine seedlings. Its habitat is poorly protected, and also degraded in places due to overgrazing, inappropriate fire management, and spreading, unmanaged alien invasive plants. |
Population |
This taxon is known from only two collections, about 50 km apart, both in Drakensberg Foothill Moist Grassland, of which about 70-80% remains intact. It is possible that this taxon may be under-sampled, and more common than records suggest, or it may be a localized habitat specialist occurring in small, isolated subpopulations. It was last collected in 1980. More surveys are needed to better estimate the size and extent of the population.
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Population trend | Unknown |
Conservation |
| Not known to be conserved in any formally protected areas. Its habitat is poorly protected. |
Notes |
| Variety aciformis is easily distinguished from the widespread and more common var. ichopensis by the needle-like leaves, which is unlike any other members of the genus, and may warrant recognising this taxon as a separate species (Codd 1986). |
Assessment History |
Taxon assessed |
Status and Criteria |
Citation/Red List version | | Kniphofia ichopensis Schinz var. aciformis Codd | Data Deficient | 2015.1 | | Kniphofia ichopensis Schinz var. aciformis Codd | Data Deficient (Taxonomically Problematic) | Raimondo et al. (2009) | | Kniphofia ichopensis Schinz var. aciformis Codd | Lower Risk - Least Concern | Scott-Shaw (1999) | |
Bibliography |
Codd, L.E. 1986. LILIACEAE: Notes on Kniphofia. Bothalia 16(2):231-232.
Codd, L.E. 2005. Asphodelaceae (First part): Kniphofia. In: G. Germishuizen and B.A. Momberg (eds). Flora of southern Africa 5 Part 1, Fascicle 2:1-91. South African National Biodiversity 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.
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Citation |
| Mtshali, H. & von Staden, L. 2015. Kniphofia ichopensis Schinz var. aciformis Codd. National Assessment: Red List of South African Plants version . Accessed on 2025/01/17 |
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