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Scientific Name | Aristea elliptica Goldblatt & A.P.Dold |
Higher Classification | Monocotyledons |
Family | IRIDACEAE |
Synonyms | Aristea pusilla (Thunb.) Ker Gawl. subsp. robustior Weim. |
National Status |
Status and Criteria | Vulnerable B1ab(ii,iii,v) |
Assessment Date | 2021/06/15 |
Assessor(s) | H. Mtshali & P.A. Manyama |
Justification | This Eastern Cape endemic has a restricted distribution with an extent of occurrence (EOO) of 1204-4621 km², it is known from between three and seven locations and the population is continuing to decline as a result of rural and urban development, agricultural expansion, afforestation, overgrazing and invasion by alien plants. It is therefore listed as Vulnerable under criterion B. |
Distribution |
Endemism | South African endemic |
Provincial distribution | Eastern Cape |
Range | This species has a restricted distribution to the central Eastern Cape, where it occurs from the Zuurberg Mountains to the Fish River Mouth. |
Habitat and Ecology |
Major system | Terrestrial |
Major habitats | Amathole Montane Grassland, Suurberg Quartzite Fynbos, Kasouga Dune Thicket, Albany Mesic Thicket |
Description | It occurs mainly on sandstone slopes and frequently on rock outcrops, in fynbos or grassy fynbos. |
Threats |
| it is threatened by habitat loss within its restricted range. Loss is mainly due to mainly to crop cultivation, forest plantations, rural and urban development. The habitat has been degraded in parts of its range due to overgrazing by livestock and invasion by alien invasive plants. |
Population |
This species was previously known from specimens collected between 1830 and 1916, until Smith et. al. #1504 made a new collection near Grahamstown in 2005, and it has not been collected since then. No qualitative population data is available for this species. Monitoring is required. The population trend of this species is inferred to be declining due to habitat loss and degradation.
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Population trend | Decreasing |
Assessment History |
Taxon assessed |
Status and Criteria |
Citation/Red List version | | Aristea elliptica Goldblatt & A.P.Dold | NT B1ab(ii,iii) | Raimondo et al. (2009) | |
Bibliography |
Goldblatt, P. and Manning, J.C. 2020. Iridaceae of southern Africa. Strelitzia 42. South African National Biodiversity Institute, Pretoria.
Goldblatt, P., Dold, A.P. and manning, J.C. 2005. Three cryptic new species of Aristea (Iridaceae) from southern Africa. Bothalia 35(1):1-6.
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 |
| Mtshali, H. & Manyama, P.A. 2021. Aristea elliptica Goldblatt & A.P.Dold. National Assessment: Red List of South African Plants version . Accessed on 2025/04/13 |
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