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Scientific Name | Arctotis virgata Jacq. |
Higher Classification | Dicotyledons |
Family | ASTERACEAE |
Synonyms | Arctotis graminea K.Lewin |
National Status |
Status and Criteria | Data Deficient - Insufficient Information |
Assessment Date | 2023/08/16 |
Assessor(s) | R.J. McKenzie & N.N. Mhlongo |
Justification | This is a poorly known species. Based on currently available data, its risk of extinction cannot be assessed. It is listed as Data Deficient. |
Distribution |
Endemism | South African endemic |
Provincial distribution | Eastern Cape |
Range | This species is known from Riversdale but may possibly occur elsewhere. |
Habitat and Ecology |
Major system | Terrestrial |
Major habitats | Aggeneys Gravel Vygieveld |
Description | Plants grow on grassy flats. |
Threats |
A subpopulation occurring on the roadside near Korentepoort Dam was lost around 2003/2004 due to widening of a road. Suitable habitat is likely to have been lost when the Garcia State Forest was established. This species is likely to also have been impacted by habitat transformation due to agricultural crop farming. |
Population |
The exact distribution and abundance of this species remains largely unknown which poses a challenge in accurately assessing its threat status. It may be more common than currently known as it may flower later than many other species in the Riversdale area and is largely inconspicuous when not in flower. It is likely a highly restricted, habitat specific endemic. One subpopulation consisting of approximately 50 plants is known to occur in ericaceous fynbos on a north-facing slope facing the lake along Korentepoort dam. Additional searches in fynbos patches between the dam and Riversdale yielded no additional subpopulations. This species is postulated to grow in ericaceous fynbos on the southern foothills of the Langeberg in the vicinity of Riversdale and searches for this species should target vegetation similar to this. Another potential locality which might yield additional subpopulations of this species is a ridge south of the Korentepoort dam, possibly within the Aggeneys Gravel Vygieveld vegetation.
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Population trend | Unknown |
Assessment History |
Taxon assessed |
Status and Criteria |
Citation/Red List version | Arctotis virgata Jacq. | Least Concern | Raimondo et al. (2009) | Arctotis graminea K.Lewin | Data Deficient (Taxonomically Problematic) | 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.
Manning, J.C. and Goldblatt, P. 2012. Plants of the Greater Cape Floristic Region 1: The Core Cape Flora. Strelitzia 29. South African National Biodiversity Institute, Pretoria.
McKenzie, R.J. 2018. Nomenclatural changes and typifications of Arctotis species (Asteraceae, Arctotideae) from the Western Cape and Eastern Cape provinces of South Africa. Willdenowia 48(1):29-49.
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 |
McKenzie, R.J. & Mhlongo, N.N. 2023. Arctotis virgata Jacq. National Assessment: Red List of South African Plants version . Accessed on 2024/11/12 |