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Scientific Name | Eugenia umtamvunensis A.E.van Wyk |
Higher Classification | Dicotyledons |
Family | MYRTACEAE |
Common Names | Thick-leaved Forest Myrtle (e) |
National Status |
Status and Criteria | Endangered B1ab(iii,v)+2ab(iii,v) |
Assessment Date | 2007/11/27 |
Assessor(s) | L. von Staden & A.T.D. Abbott |
Justification | This species has an extent of occurrence (EOO) of 140-660 km², and an area of occupancy (AOO) of less than 50 km². Known subpopulations are small and isolated and therefore considered severely fragmented. This species is restricted to a highly threatened and restricted habitat and continues to decline due to too frequent and intense grassland fires impacting on forest margins, harvesting for firewood and building materials, and alien plant invasion. Only six subpopulations in three locations are presently known but there may be a few others in inaccessible and unexplored areas of the Pondoland region. |
Distribution |
Endemism | South African endemic |
Provincial distribution | Eastern Cape, KwaZulu-Natal |
Range | This species is found in Pondoland, between Umtamvuna and Mtentu Rivers. |
Habitat and Ecology |
Major system | Terrestrial |
Major habitats | Scarp Forest, Pondoland-Ugu Sandstone Coastal Sourveld |
Description | Plants grow in Pondoland scarp forest. It is restricted to the margins of a particular type of kloof or ravine forest that stretch up along narrow drainage lines above the steep cliffs of the deep Pondoland gorges, Msikaba Formation Sandstone, 300-500 m. |
Threats |
| The main threats to Pondoland woody endemics restricted to forest margins are too frequent and intense grassland fires that are causing forest margins to recede (D. Styles, C.R. Scott-Shaw pers. obs.) as well as the indiscriminate harvesting of wood for fuel and building materials (T. Abbott pers. comm.) These threats are affecting forest margins mainly in the areas between Umtamvuna and Mkambati Nature Reserves. Within the Mkambati Nature Reserve the habitat is potentially threatened by encroaching Chromolaena odorata that has invaded parts of the Mtentu River (K. van der Walt pers. obs.). |
Population |
Four subpopulations are known.
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Population trend | Decreasing |
Conservation |
| It is protected in the Umtamvuna and Mkambati Nature Reserves. |
Assessment History |
Taxon assessed |
Status and Criteria |
Citation/Red List version | | Eugenia umtamvunensis A.E.van Wyk | EN B1ab(iii,v)+2ab(iii,v) | Raimondo et al. (2009) | | Eugenia umtamvunensis A.E.van Wyk | VU | Scott-Shaw (1999) | | Eugenia umtamvunensis A.E.van Wyk | Rare | 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.
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Citation |
| von Staden, L. & Abbott, A.T.D. 2007. Eugenia umtamvunensis A.E.van Wyk. National Assessment: Red List of South African Plants version . Accessed on 2025/07/02 |
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