Taxonomy
Scientific Name
Aristea palustris Schltr.
Higher Classification
Monocotyledons
Family
IRIDACEAE
National Status
Status and Criteria
Endangered B1ab(ii,iii)+2ab(ii,iii)
Assessment Date
2021/02/24
Assessor(s)
D. Raimondo, N.A. Helme & D.I.W. Euston-Brown
Justification
This species has a restricted distribution on seasonally wet sites in the Agulhas Plain. It is known from between five and seven locations and has an extent of occurrence (EOO) of 560 km² and an area of occupancy (AOO) estimated to be less than 100 km². None of these locations are protected. This specialist to seasonally wet habitats is severely threatened by alien plant invasion which utilize high volumes of groundwater resulting in a lowered water table and desiccation of its habitat. It is therefore listed as Endangered under criterion B.
Distribution
Endemism
South African endemic
Provincial distribution
Western Cape
Range
The species has a restricted distribution on the Agulhas Plain and the slopes of the Bredasdrop mountains in the Western Cape Province, South Africa.
Habitat and Ecology
Major system
Terrestrial
Major habitats
Overberg Sandstone Fynbos, Elim Ferricrete Fynbos
Description
It occurs in seasonally wet sites mostly on limestone substrates.
Threats
Alien plant invasion is severe within this species range and is resulting in surface water reduction. This is likely to be impacting on this seasonally wet habitat specialist.
Population

No population data are available for this species. However, due to ongoing degradation of habitat by alien invasive plants, population decline is inferred.


Population trend
Decreasing
Assessment History
Taxon assessed
Status and Criteria
Citation/Red List version
Aristea palustris Schltr.EN B1ab(iii)Raimondo et al. (2009)
Aristea palustris Schltr.Vulnerable Hilton-Taylor (1996)
Aristea palustris Schltr.Uncertain Hall et al. (1980)
Bibliography

Goldblatt, P. and Manning, J.C. 2020. Iridaceae of southern Africa. Strelitzia 42. South African National Biodiversity 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.


Manning, J., Goldblatt, P. and Snijman, D. 2002. The color encyclopedia of Cape bulbs. Timber Press, Portland/Cambridge.


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.


Weimarck, H. 1940. Monograph of the genus Aristea. Lunds Universitets Arsskrift 2,36,1:1-140. C.W.K. Gleerup, Lund.


Citation
Raimondo, D., Helme, N.A. & Euston-Brown, D.I.W. 2021. Aristea palustris Schltr. National Assessment: Red List of South African Plants version . Accessed on 2025/04/14

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Distribution map


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