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Scientific Name | Diascia caitliniae K.E.Steiner |
Higher Classification | Dicotyledons |
Family | SCROPHULARIACEAE |
National Status |
Status and Criteria | Endangered B1ab(i,ii,iii,iv,v)+2ab(i,ii,iii,iv,v) |
Assessment Date | 2012/02/03 |
Assessor(s) | L. von Staden & C. von Witt |
Justification | A rare and highly localized endemic (EOO <8 km²), currently known from two small subpopulations, one threatened by a proposed mine. Other threats include habitat loss to crop cultivation, habitat fragmentation and too irregular fires. |
Distribution |
Endemism | South African endemic |
Provincial distribution | Western Cape |
Range | Krom Antonies River Valley, northern Piketberg. |
Habitat and Ecology |
Major system | Terrestrial |
Major habitats | Swartland Shale Renosterveld, Piketberg Sandstone Fynbos |
Description | Sandy loam to clay soils on lower southwest-facing slopes and flats at the interface between sandstone fynbos and shale renosterveld. |
Threats |
| The largest known subpopulation is likely to be severely affected by a proposed tungsten mine in the valley. A second smaller subpopulation is not currently threatened, but is potentially threatened by expansion of nearby crop fields. The Krom Antonies River Valley is already extensively transformed to crop cultivation, and within the valley, only small fragments of natural vegetation remain that are infrequently burnt. Subpopulations on fragments are likely to be threatened by a lack of fire, as this short-lived species is stimulated by fire to grow and flower, remaining dormant within the soil seed bank for most of the fire interval. |
Population |
Only two subpopulations are currently known, both were observed within the first year after fire on two adjacent farms. The largest subpopulation consists of between 200 and 300 mature individuals, and is likely to be severely affected if a proposed tungsten mine in the valley is approved. The second, smaller population consists of ±30 mature individuals. The species is a short-lived, fire stimulated herb, which means that it is easily overlooked and other subpopulations may exist. The species has however never been collected elsewhere in the Piketberg region, indicating that it is quite likely endemic to the Krom Antonies River Valley.
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Population trend | Decreasing |
Assessment History |
Taxon assessed |
Status and Criteria |
Citation/Red List version | | Diascia caitliniae K.E.Steiner | EN B1ab(i,ii,iii,iv,v)+2ab(i,ii,iii,iv,v) | 2012.1 | |
Bibliography |
Steiner, K.E. 2011. A new endemic Diascia (Scrophulariaceae) threatened by proposed tungsten mining in the Western Cape. South African Journal of Botany 77(4):777-781.
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Citation |
| von Staden, L. & von Witt, C. 2012. Diascia caitliniae K.E.Steiner. National Assessment: Red List of South African Plants version . Accessed on 2025/04/14 |
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