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Scientific Name | Asparagus fourei (Oberm.) Fellingham & N.L.Mey. |
Higher Classification | Monocotyledons |
Family | ASPARAGACEAE |
Synonyms | Protasparagus fouriei Oberm. |
National Status |
Status and Criteria | Vulnerable D2 |
Assessment Date | 2006/11/13 |
Assessor(s) | S.M. Burrows, J.E. Burrows, M. Lötter, D. Raimondo & L. von Staden |
Justification | A rare, range-restricted Sekhukhuneland endemic. As it is restricted to dolerite outcrops it is somewhat protected from mining and associated expanding human settlements as mining tends to impact more severely on mineral rich norite. There is however a potential threat of habitat degradation to some of the subpopulations that occur near human settlements. |
Distribution |
Endemism | South African endemic |
Provincial distribution | Limpopo |
Range | Sekhukhuneland, Burgersfort to Penge. |
Habitat and Ecology |
Major system | Terrestrial |
Major habitats | Sekhukhune Mountain Bushveld, Sekhukhune Plains Bushveld, Poung Dolomite Mountain Bushveld |
Description | Mixed bushveld, on rocky, dolomite outcrops. |
Threats |
| This species tends to grow on dolomite outcrops, and does not occur on norites. This offers it some protection from mining, the biggest threat to Sekhukhune endemics, as norites are mineral rich and favoured for mining.
The hills around Penge mine and north of the Olifants River are not as densely populated as other areas elsewhere in Sekhukhuneland and do not suffer the intense grazing pressure that other areas do. The subpopulations within this region are at present not seriously threatened. However around Moshira and Burgersfort, there are settlements, and the plains are extensively cultivated, especially around Moshira. Although the rocky koppies are not impacted by infrastructure development and agriculture, they may be subjected to degradation due to firewood collecting and overgrazing, especially by goats. This may potentially threaten subpopulations in this area. |
Population |
Population trend | Stable |
Assessment History |
Taxon assessed |
Status and Criteria |
Citation/Red List version | | Asparagus fourei (Oberm.) Fellingham & N.L.Mey. | VU D2 | Raimondo et al. (2009) | | Asparagus fourei (Oberm.) Fellingham & N.L.Mey. | Insufficiently Known | Hilton-Taylor (1996) | |
Bibliography |
Burrows, S.M. In prep. Revision of Asparagus.
Fellingham, A.C. and Meyer, N.L. 1995. New combinations and a complete list of Asparagus species in southern Africa (Aparagaceae). Bothalia 25(2):205-209.
Hilton-Taylor, C. 1996. Red data list of southern African plants. Strelitzia 4. South African National Botanical Institute, Pretoria.
Obermeyer, A.A. and Immelman, K.L. 1992. Protasparagus. In: O.A. Leistner (ed). Flora of southern Africa 5 Part 3 Dracenaceae, Asparagaceae, Luzuriagaceae and Smilacaceae:11-70. 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.
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Citation |
| Burrows, S.M., Burrows, J.E., Lötter, M., Raimondo, D. & von Staden, L. 2006. Asparagus fourei (Oberm.) Fellingham & N.L.Mey. National Assessment: Red List of South African Plants version . Accessed on 2025/05/09 |
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