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Scientific Name | Hesperantha muirii (L.Bolus) G.J.Lewis |
Higher Classification | Monocotyledons |
Family | IRIDACEAE |
Synonyms | Acidanthera muirii L.Bolus, Hesperantha muirii (L.Bolus) G.J.Lewis var. robusta G.J.Lewis |
National Status |
Status and Criteria | Endangered B1ab(i,ii,iii,iv,v)+2ab(i,ii,iii,iv,v) |
Assessment Date | 2021/06/10 |
Assessor(s) | L. von Staden & T. Patel |
Justification | This species has an extent of occurrence (EOO) of 1501 km², and an area of occupancy (AOO) of 44 km². It is known from between four and eight locations, which continue to decline due to ongoing habitat loss and degradation. It is severely fragmented, and is therefore listed as Endangered under criterion B. |
Distribution |
Endemism | South African endemic |
Provincial distribution | Western Cape |
Range | It is endemic to the Western Cape of South Africa, where it occurs on the coastal lowlands from Bredasdorp to Albertinia. |
Habitat and Ecology |
Major system | Terrestrial |
Major habitats | Mossel Bay Shale Renosterveld, Eastern Ruens Shale Renosterveld, Ruens Silcrete Renosterveld, Potberg Ferricrete Fynbos |
Description | It occurs on clay slopes and flats in renosterveld. |
Threats |
| This species has lost 73% of its habitat (calculated using landcover data in GIS) to wheat cultivation over the past 65 years, and only small fragments of natural vegetation remains. Remaining subpopulations are threatened by ongoing habitat loss as well as competition from alien invasive plants. |
Population |
This species is known historically from only eight locations across a small area in the central and eastern Overberg. It has been recently recorded at only four locations, where small subpopulations occur on isolated renosterveld fragments. At all known locations, only habitat fragments remain, and therefore the population is considered severely fragmented. A continuing decline is inferred from ongoing habitat loss and degradation.
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Population trend | Decreasing |
Assessment History |
Taxon assessed |
Status and Criteria |
Citation/Red List version | | Hesperantha muirii (L.Bolus) G.J.Lewis | EN B1ab(ii,iii,iv,v) | Raimondo et al. (2009) | |
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.
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 |
| von Staden, L. & Patel, T. 2021. Hesperantha muirii (L.Bolus) G.J.Lewis. National Assessment: Red List of South African Plants version . Accessed on 2025/04/13 |
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