Taxonomy
Scientific Name
Hesperantha saldanhae Goldblatt
Higher Classification
Monocotyledons
Family
IRIDACEAE
National Status
Status and Criteria
Critically Endangered (Possibly Extinct)
Assessment Date
2021/06/22
Assessor(s)
P. Goldblatt, D. Raimondo & T. Patel
Justification
This species was known from one location from the type locality, growing on granite rocks at Vredenburg. Repeated visits to the presumed type locality (a cluster of granite boulders on the edge of Vredenburg) have failed to relocate it. Moderate disturbance makes it unlikely that the species is extinct due to human activity. Nevertheless, it is considered Critically Endangered Possibly Extinct.
Distribution
Endemism
South African endemic
Provincial distribution
Western Cape
Range
It is endemic to South Africa, and is known only from the type collection, near Vredenburg in Western Cape.
Habitat and Ecology
Major system
Terrestrial
Major habitats
Saldanha Granite Strandveld
Description
It occurs on granite outcrops.
Threats
This species has lost 73% of its habitat (calculated using landcover data in GIS) to urban and coastal development.
Population

It is known from one location. Despite repeated searches for the species, it has never been recollected and may possibly be extinct.


Population trend
Unknown
Assessment History
Taxon assessed
Status and Criteria
Citation/Red List version
Hesperantha saldanhae GoldblattCritically Endangered (Possibly Extinct) Raimondo et al. (2009)
Hesperantha saldanhae GoldblattExtinct Hilton-Taylor (1996)
Bibliography

Goldblatt, P. 1984. A revision of Hesperantha (Iridaceae) in the winter rainfall area of southern Africa. Journal of South African Botany 50:14-141.


Goldblatt, P. 2003. A synoptic review of the African genus Hesperantha (Iridaceae: Crocoideae). Annals of the Missouri Botanical Garden 90(3):390-443.


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.


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.


Citation
Goldblatt, P., Raimondo, D. & Patel, T. 2021. Hesperantha saldanhae Goldblatt. National Assessment: Red List of South African Plants version . Accessed on 2025/05/31

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Distribution map


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