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Scientific Name | Asparagus sekukuniensis (Oberm.) Fellingham & N.L.Mey. |
Higher Classification | Monocotyledons |
Family | ASPARAGACEAE |
Synonyms | Protasparagus sekukuniensis Oberm. |
National Status |
Status and Criteria | Endangered A2c |
Assessment Date | 2012/01/27 |
Assessor(s) | S.M. Burrows, J.E. Burrows, M. Lötter, D. Raimondo & L. von Staden |
Justification | The habitat of this long-lived resprouter is extensively transformed and degraded by mining, informal settlements, overgrazing and crop cultivation. It had lost 58% of its habitat by 1996, and recent surveys indicate that the subpopulation at the type locality is extinct. The habitat destruction is irreversible and ongoing, as there is renewed interest in mining in Sekhukhuneland. It is however not declining at present, although there is a strong chance that the habitat will decline further in future. |
Distribution |
Endemism | South African endemic |
Provincial distribution | Limpopo |
Range | Leolo Mountains, Sekhukhuneland. |
Habitat and Ecology |
Major system | Terrestrial |
Major habitats | Sekhukhune Mountain Bushveld, Sekhukhune Plains Bushveld |
Description | Bushveld, on rocky slopes. |
Threats |
| Sekhukhune Plains Bushveld is one of the most threatened vegetation types of the Sekhukhune Centre of Endemism. The area around Leolo Mountain where this species occurs was already 58% transformed in 1996, mainly by mining, human settlements, cultivation and land degradation due to overgrazing of communal rangelands. The sub-population at the type locality, Driekop farm, Leolo Mountain, may be extinct, as attempts to relocate individuals have failed, and the site is completely degraded by chrome mining. Sub-populations at two other known sites at Potlake Nature Reserve are not currently declining, but there is a potential threat of mining at the site outside the reserve.
According to Obermeyer and Immelman (1992), this species is harvested for medicinal use. They do not indicate, however, what part of the plant is utilised. |
Population |
Population trend | Decreasing |
Assessment History |
Taxon assessed |
Status and Criteria |
Citation/Red List version | | Asparagus sekukuniensis (Oberm.) Fellingham & N.L.Mey. | EN A2c | Raimondo et al. (2009) | | Asparagus sekukuniensis (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. 2012. Asparagus sekukuniensis (Oberm.) Fellingham & N.L.Mey. National Assessment: Red List of South African Plants version . Accessed on 2024/12/08 |
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