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Scientific Name | Babiana avicularis Goldblatt & J.C.Manning |
Higher Classification | Monocotyledons |
Family | IRIDACEAE |
National Status |
Status and Criteria | Endangered B1ab(ii,iii,v)+2ab(ii,iii,v) |
Assessment Date | 2021/02/08 |
Assessor(s) | L. von Staden & T. Patel |
Justification | A highly range-restricted Sandveld endemic, with an extent of occurrence (EOO) of 229 km², and an area of occupancy (AOO) of 24 km². It is known from three to five locations, all of which are threatened by continuing habitat loss to potato cultivation. It is therefore listed as Endangered under criterion B. |
Distribution |
Endemism | South African endemic |
Provincial distribution | Western Cape |
Range | This species is endemic to South Africa, and is found in the coastal flats between Elands Bay and Clanwilliam. |
Habitat and Ecology |
Major system | Terrestrial |
Major habitats | Langebaan Dune Strandveld, Lambert's Bay Strandveld, Leipoldtville Sand Fynbos |
Description | It occurs in sandy coastal flats. |
Threats |
| At least 55% of this species' habitat has been lost (calculated using landcover data in GIS) in the past, with 14% of that loss having taken place since 1990. All known locations are threatened by habitat loss to expanding potato cultivation. |
Population |
Only five subpopulations are currently known, two from historical records, and three from recent collections. The two older collections are from areas that are now highly transformed, and these subpopulations may already be extinct.
There are three remaining subpopulations. The first is from coastal fynbos close to Leipoldtville in sandy ground. The second is from the Olifants River Valley north of Clanwilliam, also on sandy ground, and the third subpopulation is from sandy flats between Elands Bay and Rocher Pan. The size of the subpopulations is not known. Based on ongoing conversion of this species' sandy habitat for potato farming the population is inferred to be declining.
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Population trend | Decreasing |
Assessment History |
Taxon assessed |
Status and Criteria |
Citation/Red List version | | Babiana avicularis Goldblatt & J.C.Manning | EN B1ab(iii)+2ab(iii) | 2011.1 | |
Bibliography |
Goldblatt, P. and Manning, J.C. 2007. A revision of the southern African genus Babiana, Iridaceae, Crocoideae. Strelitzia 18:1-97. South African National Biodiversity Institute, Pretoria.
Goldblatt, P. and Manning, J.C. 2010. New taxa of Babiana (Iridaceae: Crocoideae) from coastal Western Cape, South Africa. Bothalia 40(1):47-53.
Goldblatt, P. and Manning, J.C. 2020. Iridaceae of southern Africa. Strelitzia 42. South African National Biodiversity Institute, Pretoria.
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Citation |
| von Staden, L. & Patel, T. 2021. Babiana avicularis Goldblatt & J.C.Manning. National Assessment: Red List of South African Plants version . Accessed on 2025/05/09 |
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