| Scientific Name | Brachystelma natalense (Schltr.) N.E.Br. | Higher Classification | Dicotyledons | Family | APOCYNACEAE | Synonyms | Aulostephanus natalensis Schltr. |
National Status | Status and Criteria | Critically Endangered B1ab(i,ii,iii,iv,v)+2ab(i,ii,iii,iv,v); C2a(ii) | Assessment Date | 2016/12/07 | Assessor(s) | L. von Staden & D. Styles | Justification | Brachystelma natalense is a rare species. Its habitat has been extensively destroyed and fragmented by urban expansion, crop cultivation and overgrazing. It now remains as two small, non-viable subpopulations occurring on isolated grassland fragments, with an extent of occurrence (EOO) of 30 km², and an area of occupancy (AOO) of 8 km². Although the largest remaining subpopulation (of about 50 individuals) is protected in a reserve, monitoring has shown continuing declines in the number of mature individuals and a complete lack of recruitment. The habitat of a second, smaller subpopulation of six individuals is severely threatened by invasive wattles. Therefore, it is listed as Critically Endangered under criteria B and C. |
Distribution | Endemism | South African endemic | Provincial distribution | KwaZulu-Natal | Range | This species is endemic to a small area around Pinetown in the KwaZulu-Natal Midlands in South Africa. |
Habitat and Ecology | Major system | Terrestrial | Major habitats | KwaZulu-Natal Sandstone Sourveld | Description | It occurs in sourveld grassland on Natal Group Sandstone, 450-500 m. |
Threats | | The habitat of Brachystelma natalense between Durban and Pietermaritzburg, KwaZulu-Natal Sandstone Coastal Sourveld (formerly known as Ngongoni veld according to Acocks system), is 81% transformed by urban expansion, crop cultivation and degradation due to overgrazing of rural communally owned rangelands (Ngwenya et al. 1995, Singh et al. 1997). This destruction is thought to have caused the loss of the type locality near Inanda (Ngwenya et al. 1995, Singh et al. 1997).
One small subpopulation was saved from destruction when it was discovered during an environmental impact study for a housing development. However, the development further reduced the size of the grassland fragment, and the site became heavily infested with alien invasive wattles. eThekwini Municipality recently cleared the wattles (L. Ground pers. comm. 2016), but ongoing management and rehabilitation of the site will be required to ensure the persistence of this subpopulation.
The largest known subpopulation has been found to be declining for unknown reasons during a five year monitoring period. This subpopulation occurs in a nature reserve and there are no apparent threats, except for parts of the site becoming encroached with Bracken Fern (Pteridium aquilinum). This subpopulation is also showing no signs of recruitment. The insect pollinator seems to have disappeared from the small protected grassland fragment surrounded by urban areas, as no fruiting has been observed in the subpopulation over the monitoring period. Attempts to hand-pollinate the flowers have been unsuccessful (Ngwenya et al. 1995, Singh et al. 1997), but ex-situ breeding using tissue culture is being explored as an alternative option (L. Ground pers. comm. 2016). |
Population | Six plants occur on a two hectare patch of municipal land at Alverstone. According to Scott-Shaw (1999) there were 57 plants in the Krantzkloof Nature Reserve in 1999. D. Styles monitored the population for a number of years and estimates that the number of individuals has declined over the last few years and that there were 37 or less individuals. However, according to B. Church (Threatened Plant Conservation Unit, Ezemvelo-KZN Wildlife), there are still 57 plants occurring in two separate patches in the Krantzkloof reserve (B. Church pers. comm. 2007). In a 2016 survey, only six plants could be located (L. Ground pers. comm. 2016).
| Population trend | Decreasing |
Assessment History |
Taxon assessed |
Status and Criteria |
Citation/Red List version | | Brachystelma natalense (Schltr.) N.E.Br. | CR B1ab(i,ii,iii,iv,v)+2ab(i,ii,iii,iv,v); C2a(i) | Raimondo et al. (2009) | | Brachystelma natalense (Schltr.) N.E.Br. | VU D2 | Victor (2002) | | Brachystelma natalense (Schltr.) N.E.Br. | CR B1B2abcde,D1 | Scott-Shaw (1999) | | Brachystelma natalense (Schltr.) N.E.Br. | Endangered | Hilton-Taylor (1996) | |
Bibliography | Hilton-Taylor, C. 1996. Red data list of southern African plants. Strelitzia 4. South African National Botanical Institute, Pretoria.
Ngwenya, M.A., Singh, Y., Crouch, N.R., Scott-Shaw, C.R. and Sikhakhane, T.B. 1995. Brachystelma natalense: rediscovered and redescribed. Aloe 32(2):44-43.
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.
Singh, Y., Nicholas, A. and Pooley, E. 1997. Brachystelma natalense. Flowering Plants of Africa 55:96-101.
Styles, D. 2006. Some new and interesting records from greater Durban. PlantLife 32:33-35.
Victor, J.E. 2002. South Africa. In: J.S. Golding (ed), Southern African plant Red Data Lists. Southern African Botanical Diversity Network Report 14 (pp. 93-120), SABONET, Pretoria.
Wragg, P. 2006. Conservation status of threatened milkweeds (Apocynaceae) of the Natal Group Sandstone Grasslands: Brachystelma natalense (Schltr.) N.E.Br., B. pulchellum (Harv.) Schltr., and Schizoglossum peglerae N.E. Br. University of KwaZulu-Natal, Unpublished essay.
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Citation | | von Staden, L. & Styles, D. 2016. Brachystelma natalense (Schltr.) N.E.Br. National Assessment: Red List of South African Plants version . Accessed on 2025/05/13 |
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