Taxonomy
Scientific Name
Babiana pauciflora G.J.Lewis
Higher Classification
Monocotyledons
Family
IRIDACEAE
National Status
Status and Criteria
Vulnerable D2
Assessment Date
2021/04/22
Assessor(s)
P. Goldblatt & D. Raimondo
Justification
This species has an extent of occurrence (EOO) of 434 km², and an area of occupancy (AOO) of 36 km². It is known from between four and five locations. It has lost habitat to wheat cultivation in the past, although it is not currently declining. Olive and further cereal cultivation as well as road verge clearing are potential threats. It is listed as Vulnerable under criterion D.
Distribution
Endemism
South African endemic
Provincial distribution
Northern Cape, Western Cape
Range
It is endemic to South Africa, and is found on the Bokkeveld Escarpment and Kobee valley in the Northern Cape.
Habitat and Ecology
Major system
Terrestrial
Major habitats
Nieuwoudtville Shale Renosterveld, Vanrhynsdorp Shale Renosterveld
Description
It occurs in arid renosterveld on red sandy or clay soils on rocky flats.
Threats
Populations were lost in the past to wheat farming. Around Papkuilsfontein, plants occur on road edges, the only remaining intact habitat. Agriculture remains a future potential threat for this species.
Population

This early flowering local endemic may be more common than records indicate. It is locally common in the area close to Papkuilsfontein, the subpopulation in the Kobee valley is small with only 50 plants recorded. Plants are under agricultural threat, but there is not a continuing decline.


Population trend
Stable
Assessment History
Taxon assessed
Status and Criteria
Citation/Red List version
Babiana pauciflora G.J.LewisVU D2Raimondo et al. (2009)
Babiana pauciflora G.J.LewisInsufficiently Known Hilton-Taylor (1996)
Babiana pauciflora G.J.LewisEndangered Hall et al. (1980)
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. 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. 2020. Iridaceae of southern Africa. Strelitzia 42. South African National Biodiversity Institute, Pretoria.


Hall, A.V., De Winter, M., De Winter, B. and Van Oosterhout, S.A.M. 1980. Threatened plants of southern Africa. South African National Scienctific Programmes Report 45. CSIR, 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. 2021. Babiana pauciflora G.J.Lewis. National Assessment: Red List of South African Plants version . Accessed on 2025/05/09

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Distribution map

© J.C. Manning


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