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Scientific Name | Wurmbea spicata (Burm.f.) T.Durand & Schinz |
Higher Classification | Monocotyledons |
Family | COLCHICACEAE |
Common Names | Peper-en-soutblommetjie (a), Witkoppie (a) |
National Status |
Status and Criteria | Least Concern |
Assessment Date | 2018/09/30 |
Assessor(s) | L. von Staden |
Justification | Wurmbea spicata is a widespread species, with an extent of occurrence (EOO) of 42 904 km², that has declined due to extensive historical habitat loss. It is however still common and not yet in danger of extinction. It is therefore listed as Least Concern. |
Distribution |
Endemism | South African endemic |
Provincial distribution | Northern Cape, Western Cape |
Range | This species is endemic to South Africa, and is found from the Bokkeveld Escarpment to Swellendam. |
Habitat and Ecology |
Major system | Terrestrial |
Major habitats | Swartland Granite Renosterveld, Northern Inland Shale Band Vegetation, Boland Granite Fynbos, Swartland Shale Renosterveld, Peninsula Shale Renosterveld, Peninsula Granite Fynbos, Swartland Alluvium Fynbos, Vanrhynsdorp Shale Renosterveld, Central Ruens Shale Renosterveld, Eastern Ruens Shale Renosterveld, Agter-Sederberg Shrubland, Breede Alluvium Renosterveld, Western Coastal Shale Band Vegetation, Central Coastal Shale Band Vegetation, Elim Ferricrete Fynbos, Kobee Succulent Shrubland, Citrusdal Vygieveld, Peninsula Shale Fynbos, Cape Winelands Shale Fynbos, Nieuwoudtville-Roggeveld Dolerite Renosterveld, Greyton Shale Fynbos, Nieuwoudtville Shale Renosterveld, Swartland Silcrete Renosterveld, Ruens Silcrete Renosterveld, Saldanha Granite Strandveld, Breede Shale Renosterveld, Robertson Karoo, Montagu Shale Renosterveld, Western Ruens Shale Renosterveld, Citrusdal Shale Renosterveld, Elgin Shale Fynbos |
Description | It occurs in clay and granite slopes in renosterveld. |
Threats |
| Nearly 60% of this species' renosterveld habitat has already been lost to crop cultivation, and loss is ongoing. Many subpopulations remain in isolated remnants, where they are threatened by ongoing habitat degradation due to alien plant invasion, overgrazing, and inappropriate fire management. |
Population |
There is no information available on the population of this species.
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Population trend | Decreasing |
Assessment History |
Taxon assessed |
Status and Criteria |
Citation/Red List version | | Wurmbea spicata (Burm.f.) T.Durand & Schinz var. spicata | Least Concern | Raimondo et al. (2009) | | Wurmbea spicata (Burm.f.) T.Durand & Schinz var. ustulata (B.Nord.) B.Nord. | Least Concern | 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.
Nordenstam, B. 1986. The genus Wurmbea (Colchicaceae) in the Cape region. Opera Botanica 87:1-41.
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 |
| von Staden, L. 2018. Wurmbea spicata (Burm.f.) T.Durand & Schinz. National Assessment: Red List of South African Plants version . Accessed on 2025/03/22 |
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