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Scientific Name | Alsophila capensis (L.f.) J.Sm. |
Higher Classification | Ferns |
Family | CYATHEACEAE |
Synonyms | Amphicosmia capensis (L.f.) Klotzsch, Amphicosmia riparia (Willd.) Gardner, Cormophyllum capense (L.f.) Newman, Cyathea capensis (L.f.) Sm., Cyathea capensis (L.f.) Sm. var. polypodioides (Sw.) Conant, Cyathea riparia Willd., Hemitelia capensis (L.f.) Kaulf., Polypodium capense L.f., Polystichum capense (L.f.) J.Sm., Trichomanes cormophyllum Kaulf., Trichomanes incisum Thunb. |
Common Names | Cape Tree Fern (e), Forest Tree Fern (e) |
National Status |
Status and Criteria | Least Concern |
Assessment Date | 2013/07/24 |
Assessor(s) | D. Raimondo & J.E. Victor |
Justification | A widespread species (EOO >500 000 km²), and not in danger of extinction. |
Distribution |
Endemism | Not endemic to South Africa |
Provincial distribution | Eastern Cape, KwaZulu-Natal, Limpopo, Mpumalanga |
Range | Cape Peninsula eastwards along the coast and northwards throughout the eastern half of South Africa. Also in Zimbabwe, Mozambique, Malawi and southern Tanzania. |
Habitat and Ecology |
Major system | Terrestrial |
Major habitats | Forest |
Description | Forest, near waterfalls, streams and permanently moist seepages. |
Threats |
| Declining in Mpumalanga due to removal of mature individuals from the wild by plant collectors. |
Population |
Population trend | Decreasing |
Assessment History |
Taxon assessed |
Status and Criteria |
Citation/Red List version | | Alsophila capensis (L.f.) J.Sm. | Least Concern | 2014.1 | | Alsophila capensis (L.f.) J.Sm. | Declining | 2013.1 | | Cyathea capensis (L.f.) Sm. var. capensis | Declining | Raimondo et al. (2009) | | Cyathea capensis (L.f.) Sm. | Lower Risk - Near Threatened | Scott-Shaw (1999) | | Cyathea capensis (L.f.) Sm. | Lower Risk - Near Threatened | Scott-Shaw (1999) | | Cyathea capensis (L.f.) Sm. var. capensis | Not Threatened | 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.
Scott-Shaw, C.R. 1999. Rare and threatened plants of KwaZulu-Natal and neighbouring regions. KwaZulu-Natal Nature Conservation Service, Pietermaritzburg.
Victor, J.E. and Dold, A.P. 2003. Threatened plants of the Albany Centre of Floristic Endemism, South Africa. South African Journal of Science 99:437-446.
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Citation |
| Raimondo, D. & Victor, J.E. 2013. Alsophila capensis (L.f.) J.Sm. National Assessment: Red List of South African Plants version . Accessed on 2025/06/30 |
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