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Scientific Name | Cyclopia plicata Kies |
Higher Classification | Dicotyledons |
Family | FABACEAE |
National Status |
Status and Criteria | Endangered B1ab(iii,v)+2ab(iii,v) |
Assessment Date | 2022/02/14 |
Assessor(s) | J.H. Vlok & D. Raimondo |
Justification | This species has a limited distribution range and has an extent of occurrence (EOO) of 279 km ², and an area of occupancy (AOO) of 44 km². It is known from between four to five locations and the population is declining due to harvesting for the honey bush tea industry and altered fire regimes. It therefore qualifies as Endangered under criterion B. |
Distribution |
Endemism | South African endemic |
Provincial distribution | Eastern Cape, Western Cape |
Range | This species is endemic to the Western and Eastern Cape provinces of South Africa, where it occurs in the Kammanassie and Kouga Mountains. |
Habitat and Ecology |
Major system | Terrestrial |
Major habitats | Kouga Sandstone Fynbos, South Kammanassie Sandstone Fynbos, Eastern Inland Shale Band Vegetation, Central Inland Shale Band Vegetation |
Description | Plants grow in mountain fynbos on shale bands in loamy rocky soil at an altitude ranging between 1000-1700 m. |
Threats |
| Previously, this species was severely threatened by harvesting for honey bush tea. No regrowth had been observed in severely harvested individuals in the Kammanassie Mountains by 2011. There has been a long term trade in honeybush but the honeybush tea industry has slowly declined since 2012 and the volumes exported have dropped drastically from 300 tons to only 100 tons exported in 2021 (Gerrie Ferreira, pers. comm 2022). This reseeding species is also affected by altered fire regimes and is likely to decline if fire return cycles are too frequent. |
Population |
Less than five subpopulations are known and the overall population is suspected to be declining due to unsustainable harvesting and fires that are too frequent.
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Population trend | Decreasing |
Assessment History |
Taxon assessed |
Status and Criteria |
Citation/Red List version | | Cyclopia plicata Kies | EN B1ab(iii,v) | Raimondo et al. (2009) | | Cyclopia plicata Kies | Rare | Hilton-Taylor (1996) | |
Bibliography |
Hilton-Taylor, C. 1996. Red data list of southern African plants. Strelitzia 4. South African National Botanical Institute, Pretoria.
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.
Schutte, A.L. 1997. Systematics of the genus Cyclopia Vent. (Fabaceae, Podalyrieae). Edinburgh Journal of Botany 54(2):125-170.
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Citation |
| Vlok, J.H. & Raimondo, D. 2022. Cyclopia plicata Kies. National Assessment: Red List of South African Plants version . Accessed on 2025/05/09 |
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