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Scientific Name | Ledebouria viscosa Jessop |
Higher Classification | Monocotyledons |
Family | HYACINTHACEAE |
National Status |
Status and Criteria | Least Concern |
Assessment Date | 2016/07/22 |
Assessor(s) | L. von Staden |
Justification | A range-restricted (EOO 3540 km²) and easily overlooked species that is seldom recorded. Its habitat is fairly well protected, and it is not suspected to be in danger of extinction. |
Distribution |
Endemism | South African endemic |
Provincial distribution | Limpopo |
Range | Plains to the west of the Waterberg between Thabazimbi and Lephalale. |
Habitat and Ecology |
Major system | Terrestrial |
Major habitats | Savanna |
Description | Sandy plains, in grassy clearings in open, sparse woodland. |
Threats |
The habitat of this species has mostly been utilized in the past as rangelands for livestock. Some areas have become degraded due to overgrazing and have become encroached by dense woody vegetation (Craib and Brown 1998). However, areas around the Waterberg are increasingly being converted to game farms and private nature conservancies, which means that the threat of habitat degradation and overgrazing has largely ceased, and the habitat may recover in time. The species is grazed by game and cattle, but damage and disturbance of this kind appear to promote vegetative regeneration (Craib and Brown 1998) and is unlikely to cause declines. |
Population |
A localized species, known from only a few records. Recent field observations indicate that it is more common than previously known and probably overlooked in the past and there are likely more than 10 locations (Craib and Brown 1998). It may have declined in the past due to habitat loss and degradation, but the population is expected to stabilize as more of its habitat is preserved.
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Population trend | Stable |
Conservation |
Protected in the Marakele National Park and private conservancies and game farms. |
Notes |
Sand tends to stick to the leaves of this species, resulting in it being very easily overlooked (Craib and Brown 1998). |
Assessment History |
Taxon assessed |
Status and Criteria |
Citation/Red List version | Ledebouria viscosa Jessop | Least Concern | Raimondo et al. (2009) | |
Bibliography |
Craib, C. and Brown, L. 1998. Ledebouria viscosa, one of South Africa's most striking and unusual bulbous plants. Herbertia 53:49-53.
Jessop, J.P. 1970. Studies in the bulbous Liliaceae: 1. Scilla, Schizocarpus and Ledebouria. Journal of South African Botany 36(4):233-266.
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.
Venter, S. 1993. A revision of the genus Ledebouria Roth (Hyacinthaceae) in South Africa. Unpublished MSc. Thesis, University of Natal, Pietermaritzburg.
Venter, S. 2008. Synopsis of the genus Ledebouria Roth (Hyacinthaceae) in South Africa. Herbertia 62:85-155.
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Citation |
von Staden, L. 2016. Ledebouria viscosa Jessop. National Assessment: Red List of South African Plants version . Accessed on 2025/02/18 |