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Scientific Name | Erepsia villiersii L.Bolus |
Higher Classification | Dicotyledons |
Family | AIZOACEAE |
National Status |
Status and Criteria | Critically Endangered B1ab(ii,iii,iv,v)+2ab(ii,iii,iv,v) |
Assessment Date | 2011/06/20 |
Assessor(s) | J.H. Vlok, A.L. Schutte-Vlok, I. Ebrahim, L. von Staden & D. Raimondo |
Justification | This extremely range-restricted species (EOO 0.5-2 km²) has lost the majority of its habitat to vineyard and orchard expansion. Having not been collected for over 25 years, it was thought to be extinct, yet in 2009 it was rediscovered on small fragments. It continues to decline due to ongoing habitat loss, fragmentation and fire exclusion. |
Distribution |
Endemism | South African endemic |
Provincial distribution | Western Cape |
Range | Between Villiersdorp and Worcester. |
Habitat and Ecology |
Major system | Terrestrial |
Major habitats | Breede Shale Renosterveld, North Sonderend Sandstone Fynbos, Elgin Shale Fynbos |
Description | Gravel shale slopes. |
Threats |
| This species has been known since its discovery from an area of about 2 km², which is 75% transformed for crop cultivation, and habitat loss to expanding fruit orchards is ongoing. Renosterveld within this species' range is increasingly being fragmented, which results in fire exclusion. Fire is extremely important in the life cycle of Erepsia species, which tend to be poor competitors and disappear in mature vegetation, relying on soil-stored seeds for fire-stimulated regeneration. |
Population |
This species is locally common within its extremely limited range.
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Population trend | Decreasing |
Assessment History |
Taxon assessed |
Status and Criteria |
Citation/Red List version | | Erepsia villiersii L.Bolus | Critically Endangered (Possibly Extinct) | Raimondo et al. (2009) | | Erepsia villiersii L.Bolus | Vulnerable | Hilton-Taylor (1996) | |
Bibliography |
Goldblatt, P. and Manning, J.C. 2000. Cape Plants: A conspectus of the Cape Flora of South Africa. Strelitzia 9. National Botanical Institute, Cape Town.
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.
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Citation |
| Vlok, J.H., Schutte-Vlok, A.L., Ebrahim, I., von Staden, L. & Raimondo, D. 2011. Erepsia villiersii L.Bolus. National Assessment: Red List of South African Plants version . Accessed on 2025/05/31 |
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