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Scientific Name | Felicia westae (Fourc.) Grau |
Higher Classification | Dicotyledons |
Family | ASTERACEAE |
Synonyms | Aster westae Fourc. |
National Status |
Status and Criteria | Endangered B1ab(i,ii,iii,iv,v)+2ab(i,ii,iii,iv,v) |
Assessment Date | 2015/05/06 |
Assessor(s) | C. Logie & D. van der Colff |
Justification | A range-restricted species (EOO 512 km²), known from fewer than five locations and declining due to ongoing habitat loss and degradation. |
Distribution |
Endemism | South African endemic |
Provincial distribution | Eastern Cape, Western Cape |
Range | Knysna to Humansdorp. |
Habitat and Ecology |
Major system | Terrestrial |
Major habitats | Tsitsikamma Sandstone Fynbos, South Outeniqua Sandstone Fynbos |
Description | Streambanks in low-lying areas near the coast. |
Threats |
| This species' habitat has been degraded due to agricultural expansion and timber plantations. Most riverbanks are heavily infested with unmanaged alien invasive plants, which are outcompeting native species. |
Population |
Felicia westae is known from numerous historical records within a small area along the southern Cape coast, but was not recollected since 1944. After many years of searching it was rediscovered by volunteers of the Custodians of Rare and Endangered Wildflowers (CREW) Programme in 2015 along several tributaries of the Tsitsikamma River. Although riverine vegetation is degraded across its range, particularly due to alien invasive plants, habitat still exists within the historical range, and it is possibly that this species is overlooked.
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Population trend | Decreasing |
Assessment History |
Taxon assessed |
Status and Criteria |
Citation/Red List version | | Felicia westae (Fourc.) Grau | EN B1ab(i,ii,iii,iv,v)+2ab(i,ii,iii,iv,v) | 2015.1 | | Felicia westae (Fourc.) Grau | Data Deficient | Raimondo et al. (2009) | |
Bibliography |
Goldblatt, P. and Manning, J.C. 2000. Cape Plants: A conspectus of the Cape Flora of South Africa. Strelitzia 9. National Botanical Institute, Cape Town.
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.
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Citation |
| Logie, C. & van der Colff, D. 2015. Felicia westae (Fourc.) Grau. National Assessment: Red List of South African Plants version . Accessed on 2025/05/13 |
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