Taxonomy
Scientific Name
Helictotrichon namaquense Schweick.
Higher Classification
Monocotyledons
Family
POACEAE
Synonyms
Avenastrum dregeanum (Steud.) Stapf, Trisetum barbataum Nees, Trisetum barbataum Nees var. ß minus Nees, Trisetum dregeanum Steud.
National Status
Status and Criteria
Vulnerable B1ab(iii,v)
Assessment Date
2008/06/08
Assessor(s)
J.E. Victor, D. Raimondo & L. Fish
Justification
Known for a long time only from the type collection made in the Kamiesberg by Drège in 1835. In 1948 it was rediscovered at De Hoop in the Calvinia district. Acocks (1990) indicates that this taxon had a very similar distribution to H. barbatum occurring on all the Karoo mountains i.e. Bokkeveld, Kamiesberg, Roggeveld and Hantamsberg, but stated that it had disappeared from much of its range due to overgrazing. Acocks only recorded this species from the Roggeveld area. The species was rediscovered in 1986 in the Roggeveld where it was common along the roadside verges but declining due to being heavily grazed. EOO <6600 km², locations suspected to be less than 10.
Distribution
Endemism
South African endemic
Provincial distribution
Northern Cape
Range
Roggeveld and Hantamsberg Mountain.
Habitat and Ecology
Major system
Terrestrial
Major habitats
Roggeveld Karoo, Roggeveld Shale Renosterveld
Description
Sandy flats in mountain renosterveld.
Threats
Threatened by grazing practices. Possibly threatened by unnatural fire regimes and bad veld management.
Population
Population trend
Decreasing
Assessment History
Taxon assessed
Status and Criteria
Citation/Red List version
Helictotrichon namaquense Schweick.VU B1ab(iii,v)Raimondo et al. (2009)
Helictotrichon namaquense Schweick.Indeterminate Hilton-Taylor (1996)
Helictotrichon namaquense Schweick.Uncertain Hall et al. (1980)
Bibliography

Acocks, J.P.H. 1990. Acocks' Notes: Key grasses of South Africa. Compiled by P.J.K. Zacharias. Grassland Society of Southern Africa, Howick.


Chippindall, L.K.A. 1955. The Grasses and Pastures of South Africa ... Part. 1. A Guide to the Identification of Grasses in South Africa. 1:234-238.


Gibbs Russell, G.E., Watson, L., Koekemoer, M., Smook, L., Barker, N.P., Anderson, H.M. and Dallwitz, M.J. 1990. Grasses of southern Africa. Memoirs of the Botanical Survey of South Africa 58:1-437. Botanical Research Institute, Pretoria.


Hall, A.V., De Winter, M., De Winter, B. and Van Oosterhout, S.A.M. 1980. Threatened plants of southern Africa. South African National Scienctific Programmes Report 45. CSIR, Pretoria.


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.


Citation
Victor, J.E., Raimondo, D. & Fish, L. 2008. Helictotrichon namaquense Schweick. National Assessment: Red List of South African Plants version . Accessed on 2025/04/13

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Distribution map


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