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Scientific Name | Lachenalia pygmaea (Jacq.) G.D.Duncan |
Higher Classification | Monocotyledons |
Family | HYACINTHACEAE |
Synonyms | Hyacinthus bifolius Boiteau ex Cav., Massonia violacea Andrews, Polyanthes pygmaea Jacq., Polyxena pygmaea (Jacq.) Kunth |
National Status |
Status and Criteria | Least Concern |
Assessment Date | 2020/03/17 |
Assessor(s) | G.D. Duncan & L. von Staden |
Justification | Lachenalia pygmaea is a widespread and locally abundant species that is not in danger of extinction. |
Distribution |
Endemism | South African endemic |
Provincial distribution | Northern Cape, Western Cape |
Range | This widespread species has a disjunct distribution in the Northern and Western Cape. In Namaqualand, it occurs in the Kamiesberg and south of Garies. In the southern Cape, it occurs in De Hoop Nature Reserve, around Stilbaai, and on the northern foothills of the Anysberg in the Little Karoo. |
Habitat and Ecology |
Major system | Terrestrial |
Major habitats | Fynbos, Succulent Karoo |
Description | It occurs in a variety of seasonally moist habitats, including shallow gravelly soils on granite rock sheets, clay soils on lower north-facing slopes, deep sand and limestone outcrops near the coast. Mature fruits split open and seeds are shed near mother plant, and when the peduncle (flower stem) breaks fruits are blown by wind releasing the remaining seeds. |
Threats |
| This species is not threatened (Duncan 2012). In the Kamiesberg it persists in spite of heavy overgrazing and trampling (N.A. Helme pers. obs.). In the southern Cape it is potentially threatened by competition from alien invasive plants, but there are ongoing efforts to clear invasive plants within De Hoop Nature Reserve. At Anysberg it is not threatened. |
Population |
Plants are found in large colonies, consisting of thousands of individuals.
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Population trend | Unknown |
Bibliography |
Duncan, G.D. 2012. The genus Lachenalia. Kew Publishing, Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew.
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Citation |
| Duncan, G.D. & von Staden, L. 2020. Lachenalia pygmaea (Jacq.) G.D.Duncan. National Assessment: Red List of South African Plants version 2020.1. Accessed on 2023/12/08 |
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