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Scientific Name | Killickia grandiflora (Killick) Bräuchler, Heubl & Doroszenko |
Higher Classification | Dicotyledons |
Family | LAMIACEAE |
Synonyms | Micromeria grandiflora Killick, Satureja grandibracteata Killick |
National Status |
Status and Criteria | Vulnerable D2 |
Assessment Date | 2019/03/28 |
Assessor(s) | L. von Staden |
Justification | A very rare and highly localized species which has an extent of occurrence (EOO) of less than 10 km², and an area of occupancy (AOO) of 8 km². It is probably locally extinct at one location known through historical records, and remains potentially vulnerable to inappropriate fire management. It is therefore listed as Vulnerable under criterion D. |
Distribution |
Endemism | South African endemic |
Provincial distribution | KwaZulu-Natal |
Range | This species occurs in the KwaZulu-Natal Drakensberg Mountains, around Cathedral Peak. |
Habitat and Ecology |
Major system | Terrestrial |
Major habitats | uKhahlamba Basalt Grassland |
Description | Plants grow in montane grassland, 2000 m. |
Threats |
| The entire distribution range of this species falls within an experimental station where the impacts of timber plantations and grassland fire management on plant communities is studied. The species was collected at the type locality prior to the establishment of experimental plots, and the type locality was assigned to a fire exclusion area. By 2006, the entire catchment was taken over by woody species, which shade out grassland species, and this species is thought to be locally extinct in this valley (Carbutt and Bräuchler 2012).
At one confirmed location, in a firebreak, Bracken Fern (Pteridium aquilinum) is invading into the habitat, crowding out native species. |
Population |
Killickia grandiflora has an extremely localized distribution. In the 1950s, the species was reported to be locally common (Killick 1961). Surveys in 2006 recorded only one small subpopulation of about 40 plants. Searches at the type locality were unsuccessful in relocating the species (Carbutt and Bräuchler 2012). It is not known whether it still occurs at a third locality, this site is burnt regularly (Carbutt and Bräuchler 2012) and thus the subpopulation is likely to persist.
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Population trend | Stable |
Assessment History |
Taxon assessed |
Status and Criteria |
Citation/Red List version | | Killickia grandiflora (Killick) Bräuchler, Heubl & Doroszenko | VU D2 | 2020.1 | | Satureja grandibracteata Killick | Rare | Raimondo et al. (2009) | | Satureja grandibracteata Killick | Lower Risk - Least Concern | Scott-Shaw (1999) | | Satureja grandibracteata Killick | Rare | Hilton-Taylor (1996) | |
Bibliography |
Bräuchler, C., Doroszenko, A., Esser, H.-J. and Heubl, G. 2008. Killickia (Lamiaceae): a new genus from KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa. Botanical Journal of the Linnean Society 157(3):575-586.
Carbutt, C. and Bräuchler, C. 2012. The rediscovery of Killickia grandiflora (Lamiaceae), a narrow endemic from the northern KwaZulu-Natal Drakensberg. PlantLife 41&42:40-45.
Codd, L.E. 1985. Lamiaceae. In: O.A. Leistner (ed). Flora of Southern Africa 28 Part 4:1-240. Botanical Research Institute, Pretoria.
Hilton-Taylor, C. 1996. Red data list of southern African plants. Strelitzia 4. South African National Botanical Institute, Pretoria.
Killick, D.J.B. 1961. South African species of Satureja. Bothalia 7:435-438.
Pooley, E. 2003. Mountain flowers: a field guide to the flora of the Drakensberg and Lesotho. Natal Flora Publications Trust, Durban.
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.
Scott-Shaw, C.R. 1999. Rare and threatened plants of KwaZulu-Natal and neighbouring regions. KwaZulu-Natal Nature Conservation Service, Pietermaritzburg.
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Citation |
| von Staden, L. 2019. Killickia grandiflora (Killick) Bräuchler, Heubl & Doroszenko. National Assessment: Red List of South African Plants version . Accessed on 2025/05/31 |
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