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Scientific Name | Tephrosia pondoensis (Codd) Schrire |
Higher Classification | Dicotyledons |
Family | FABACEAE |
Synonyms | Mundulea pondoensis Codd |
Common Names | Baster-kurkbos (a), Pondo Poison Pea (e), Pondo-gifertjie (a) |
National Status |
Status and Criteria | Endangered B1ab(iii,v); C2a(i) |
Assessment Date | 2007/11/27 |
Assessor(s) | L. von Staden & A.T.D. Abbott |
Justification | A range-restricted species (EOO 1250 km²), known from a few small, isolated subpopulations each consisting of less than 100 mature individuals. The total population is estimated not to exceed 2000 mature individuals. Subpopulations are severely fragmented and there is a continuing decline in the habitat quality and number of mature individuals as a result of too frequent fires, browsing by livestock and harvesting of firewood and wood for building materials. It is therefore assessed as Endangered under criteria B and C. |
Distribution |
Endemism | South African endemic |
Provincial distribution | Eastern Cape, KwaZulu-Natal |
Range | This species occurs from Oribi Gorge to the Msikaba River. |
Habitat and Ecology |
Major system | Terrestrial |
Major habitats | Northern Coastal Forest, Scarp Forest, Pondoland-Ugu Sandstone Coastal Sourveld, KwaZulu-Natal Coastal Belt Grassland |
Description | Plants grow in Pondoland scarp forest and adjacent grassland on sandstone, in forest margins, along drainage lines or on rocky outcrops, 300-600 m. |
Threats |
| The main threats to Pondoland woody endemics restricted to forest margins are too frequent and intense grassland fires that are causing forest margins to recede (D. Styles; C.R. Scott-Shaw pers. obs.) as well as the indiscriminate harvesting of wood for fuel and building materials (T. Abbott pers. comm.). These threats are affecting forest margins mainly in the areas between Umtamvuna and Port St. Johns. Sub-populations around Ndindini above the Msikaba River gorge (type locality) where this species was last collected in 1970 need to be relocated to determine whether they are still extant. According to Scott-Shaw (1999), heavy browsing by cattle and goats is also affecting mature individuals. |
Population |
Subpopulations are small, generally consisting of fewer than 100 mature individuals.
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Population trend | Decreasing |
Conservation |
| This species is protected in Oribi Gorge and Umtamvuna Nature Reserves. |
Notes |
| The only member of the genus Tephrosia with an arborescent habit, T. pondoensis is a robust tree up to 5 m tall. Other species of Tephrosia are generally herbs, suffrutices or small shrubs (Schrire 1991). Due to this unusual habit, the species was originally placed in the genus Mundulea by L.E. Codd (Codd 1979). Tephrosia pondoensis is also unusual in that it occurs in forests - other species of Tephrosia are generally found in savanna, bushveld, thornveld or grasslands (Schrire 1991). |
Assessment History |
Taxon assessed |
Status and Criteria |
Citation/Red List version | | Tephrosia pondoensis (Codd) Schrire | EN B1ab(iii,v); C2a(i) | Raimondo et al. (2009) | | Tephrosia pondoensis (Codd) Schrire | VU | Scott-Shaw (1999) | | Tephrosia pondoensis (Codd) Schrire | Rare | Hilton-Taylor (1996) | |
Bibliography |
Boon, R. 2010. Pooley's Trees of eastern South Africa. Flora and Fauna Publications Trust, Durban.
Codd, L.E. 1978. A new species of Mundulea. Bothalia 12:448-449.
Hilton-Taylor, C. 1996. Red data list of southern African plants. Strelitzia 4. South African National Botanical Institute, Pretoria.
Pooley, E. 1998. The complete field guide to trees of Natal, Zululand and Transkei. Natal Flora Publications Trust, Durban.
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.
Schrire, B.D. 1985. A new combination in Tephrosia. Bothalia 15(3&4):551-552.
Schrire, B.D. 1991. Tephrosia pondoensis. Flowering Plants of Africa 51(2):t. 2036.
Scott-Shaw, C.R. 1999. Rare and threatened plants of KwaZulu-Natal and neighbouring regions. KwaZulu-Natal Nature Conservation Service, Pietermaritzburg.
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Citation |
| von Staden, L. & Abbott, A.T.D. 2007. Tephrosia pondoensis (Codd) Schrire. National Assessment: Red List of South African Plants version . Accessed on 2025/05/13 |
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