|
Scientific Name | Ledebouria monophylla S.Venter |
Higher Classification | Monocotyledons |
Family | HYACINTHACEAE |
National Status |
Status and Criteria | Least Concern |
Assessment Date | 2016/08/26 |
Assessor(s) | A.J. Hankey, M. Lötter & L. von Staden |
Justification | Ledebouria monophylla is a widespread (EOO 45 208 km²), but rarely recorded species that is possibly overlooked, as it is easily confused with other species. It is declining due to habitat loss and degradation across its range, but it is not yet considered in danger of extinction. |
Distribution |
Endemism | South African endemic |
Provincial distribution | KwaZulu-Natal, Limpopo, Mpumalanga |
Range | Wolkberg to the Mpumalanga Drakensberg Escarpment and the KwaZulu-Natal Drakensberg foothills and Midlands. |
Habitat and Ecology |
Major system | Terrestrial |
Major habitats | Grassland |
Description | Deep, humus rich sandy soils derived from sandstone and quartzite in montane grasslands near streams. |
Threats |
| Ledebouria monophylla has lost much of its habitat to timber plantations across its range in Limpopo, Mpumalanga and KwaZulu-Natal. Timber plantations are no longer expanding significantly, and in Mpumalanga most of its remaining habitat is protected. It is however threatened in many places by unmanaged, spreading alien invasive plants and habitat loss to mining (M. Lotter pers. comm.). In Limpopo and near Graskop it is also threatened by habitat degradation due to livestock overgrazing. |
Population |
This species is known best from the Mpumalanga Escarpment between Ohrigstad and Sabie, where there are several known subpopulations, consisting of up to 200 individuals (Venter 1993). Venter (1993, 2008) included a single record from KwaZulu-Natal in his treatment of this species, but since then more observations of this species in KwaZulu-Natal have been recorded (A.J. Hankey pers. comm.). This species is superficially similar to L. sandersonii, and it is possibly overlooked in KwaZulu-Natal.
|
Population trend | Decreasing |
Assessment History |
Taxon assessed |
Status and Criteria |
Citation/Red List version | | Ledebouria monophylla S.Venter | LC | 2017.1 | |
Bibliography |
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 Unpublished MSc.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.
|
Citation |
| Hankey, A.J., Lötter, M. & von Staden, L. 2016. Ledebouria monophylla S.Venter. National Assessment: Red List of South African Plants version . Accessed on 2025/03/27 |
Comment on this assessment
