|
Scientific Name | Cotula vulgaris Levyns |
Higher Classification | Dicotyledons |
Family | ASTERACEAE |
Synonyms | Cotula filifolia Thunb. var. decumbens. Harv. |
National Status |
Status and Criteria | Least Concern |
Assessment Date | 2013/10/22 |
Assessor(s) | R.F. Powell, N.A. Helme & L. von Staden |
Justification | A widespread species (EOO 168 026 km²), which in spite of extensive loss and degradation of its lowland habitat is still common, estimated to remain at more than 30 locations, and not yet considered in danger of extinction. |
Distribution |
Endemism | South African endemic |
Provincial distribution | Eastern Cape, Northern Cape, Western Cape |
Range | Hondeklipbaai to the Cape Peninsula, and eastwards as far as Uitenhage. |
Habitat and Ecology |
Major system | Freshwater |
Major habitats | Fynbos |
Description | Pools and damp places, tolerating brackish water, 30 m. |
Threats |
| This species is declining due to ongoing habitat loss and degradation predominantly due to urban expansion on the Cape Peninsula and Cape Flats, and coastal development over most of its range. Around Piketberg, Aurora, and southwards to Darling it is also threatened by habitat loss to agricultural expansion and competition from alien invasive plants. Along the Cape South Coast, particularly on the Agulhas Plain, much of this species' habitat is degraded due to dense, unmanaged alien invasive plants. |
Population |
A widespread species, which in spite of extensive habitat loss and degradation is still common, and known from many recent records.
|
Population trend | Decreasing |
Notes |
| The taxon that is found in South Africa is Cotula vulgaris Levyns var. vulgaris. Another variant, C. vulgaris var. australasica J.H.Willis is found in Australia, however, this should probably be a separate species (R.F. Powell pers. comm. 2013). |
Assessment History |
Taxon assessed |
Status and Criteria |
Citation/Red List version | | Cotula vulgaris Levyns | Least Concern | 2015.1 | | Cotula vulgaris Levyns var. vulgaris | Least Concern | 2014.1 | | Cotula vulgaris Levyns var. vulgaris | CR B2ab(ii,iii,v) | 2013.1 | | Cotula vulgaris Levyns var. vulgaris | CR B2ab(ii,iii,v) | Raimondo et al. (2009) | | Cotula vulgaris Levyns | Least Concern | Raimondo et al. (2009) | |
Bibliography |
Cook, C.D.K. 2004. Aquatic and wetland plants of southern Africa. Backhuys Publishers, Leiden, The Netherlands.
Powell, R.F., Boatwright, J.S. and Magee, A.R. 2014. A taxonomic revision of the Cotula coronopifolia group (Asteraceae) and implications for the conservation statuses of the species. South African Journal of Botany 93:105-117.
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.
Sieben, E.J.J. 2009. The status and distribution of vascular plants (Magnoliophyta, Lycophyta, Pteridophyta). In: W.R.T. Darwall, K.G. Smith, D. Tweddle and P. Skelton (eds.), The status and distribution of freshwater biodiversity in southern Africa (pp. 83-98), IUCN and SAIAB, Gland, Switzerland and Grahamstown, South Africa.
|
Citation |
| Powell, R.F., Helme, N.A. & von Staden, L. 2013. Cotula vulgaris Levyns. National Assessment: Red List of South African Plants version . Accessed on 2025/04/19 |
Comment on this assessment
