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Scientific Name | Aristea compressa Buchinger ex Baker |
Higher Classification | Monocotyledons |
Family | IRIDACEAE |
Synonyms | Aristea gerrardii Weim. |
National Status |
Status and Criteria | Least Concern |
Assessment Date | 2021/02/24 |
Assessor(s) | W. Foden, P. Goldblatt, L. Potter & K. Naidoo |
Justification | Aristea compressa has a widespread distribution along the Eastern Cape and KwaZulu-Natal coast and has an extent of occurrence (EOO) of 21 855 km². It is not yet in danger of extinction. However, the population is suspected to be declining due to habitat loss and degradation. This species requires more field monitoring. It is listed as Least Concern. |
Distribution |
Endemism | Not endemic to South Africa |
Provincial distribution | Eastern Cape, KwaZulu-Natal |
Range | This species is distributed mainly along the eastern coast of South Africa from Port St Johns in the Eastern Cape to Kosi Bay in KwaZulu-Natal, extending to Pebane in coastal northern Mozambique, and also inland at Mbabane in Eswatini. |
Habitat and Ecology |
Major system | Terrestrial |
Major habitats | KwaZulu-Natal Sandstone Sourveld, Moist Coast Hinterland Grassland, Northern Coastal Forest, Lowveld Riverine Forest, Pondoland-Ugu Sandstone Coastal Sourveld, KwaZulu-Natal Coastal Belt Grassland, Maputaland Wooded Grassland, Maputaland Coastal Belt |
Description | It occurs mainly on coastal flats, often in marshy habitats and locally inland in areas with sandstone or quartzite substrates. |
Threats |
| This species' habitat has been irreversibly modified, mainly through sugarcane cultivation, timber plantations and urban expansion between Port St Johns and Kosi Bay. Habitat loss and degradation continues.
Subpopulations around Durban may be extinct as most of the remaining natural habitat is totally transformed. Despite these listed threats, a portion of this species' habitat is thought to still be intact because it is protected. |
Population |
No quantitative population data are available for this species. In spite of habitat loss across its distribution range, some of the subpopulations are formally protected. The current population trend is inferred to be declining due to ongoing habitat loss and degradation. This species requires more field monitoring to confirm the decline.
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Population trend | Decreasing |
Assessment History |
Taxon assessed |
Status and Criteria |
Citation/Red List version | | Aristea gerrardii Weim. | Least Concern | Raimondo et al. (2009) | | Aristea compressa Buchinger ex Baker | Least Concern | Raimondo et al. (2009) | |
Bibliography |
Goldblatt, P. and Manning, J.C. 2013. IRIDACEAE: Taxonomic notes on Aristea (Aristeoideae) in tropical and eastern southern Africa. Bothalia 43(2):207-211.
Goldblatt, P. and Manning, J.C. 2020. Iridaceae of southern Africa. Strelitzia 42. South African National Biodiversity 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 |
| Foden, W., Goldblatt, P., Potter, L. & Naidoo, K. 2021. Aristea compressa Buchinger ex Baker. National Assessment: Red List of South African Plants version . Accessed on 2025/04/14 |
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