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Scientific Name | Hesperantha spicata (Burm.f.) N.E.Br. subsp. fistulosa (Baker) Goldblatt |
Higher Classification | Monocotyledons |
Family | IRIDACEAE |
Synonyms | Hesperantha fistulosa Baker |
National Status |
Status and Criteria | Critically Endangered B1ab(iii,v) |
Assessment Date | 2021/06/28 |
Assessor(s) | D. Raimondo & T. Patel |
Justification | This subspecies has an extent of occurrence (EOO) of 26 km², and an area of occupancy (AOO) of 12 km². It is known from two severely fragmented subpopulations on remnant renosterveld patches. It has lost 74% of its habitat to wheat cultivation over the past 80 years, and the population is threatened by livestock overgrazing, encroachment from invasive alien grass and acacias and consequent desiccation of its seep habitat. It is therefore listed as Critically Endangered under criteria B. |
Distribution |
Endemism | South African endemic |
Provincial distribution | Western Cape |
Range | It is a rare endemic of the Western Cape forelands in South Afrca, recorded near Porterville south to Elandsberg Nature Reserve and near Paarl. |
Habitat and Ecology |
Major system | Terrestrial |
Major habitats | Swartland Shale Renosterveld |
Description | It occurs in seasonally wet sites, especially seeps and shallow marshes. |
Threats |
| This subspecies has lost 74% of its habitat previously (calculated using landcover data in GIS) to agriculture. There is an ongoing decline due to overgrazing, alien grass and acacia invasion and associated drying up of seep habitats. |
Population |
It is known from two subpopulations, which are experiencing decreasing population trends.
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Population trend | Decreasing |
Assessment History |
Taxon assessed |
Status and Criteria |
Citation/Red List version | | Hesperantha spicata (Burm.f.) N.E.Br. subsp. fistulosa (Baker) Goldblatt | CR B1ab(iii,v) | Raimondo et al. (2009) | |
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. 2010. Iridaceae: Reappraisal of Ixia maculata with I. calendulacea sp. nov., and an earlier name for I. lutea. Bothalia 40(1):59-64.
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 |
| Raimondo, D. & Patel, T. 2021. Hesperantha spicata (Burm.f.) N.E.Br. subsp. fistulosa (Baker) Goldblatt. National Assessment: Red List of South African Plants version . Accessed on 2025/05/31 |
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