|
Scientific Name | Plectranthus porcatus Van Jaarsv. & P.J.D.Winter |
Higher Classification | Dicotyledons |
Family | LAMIACEAE |
National Status |
Status and Criteria | Vulnerable D2 |
Assessment Date | 2008/04/08 |
Assessor(s) | P.A. Manyama, L. von Staden & P.J.D. Winter |
Justification | One known location is potentially threatened by habitat degradation, mining and harvesting for medicinal purposes. |
Distribution |
Endemism | South African endemic |
Provincial distribution | Limpopo |
Range | Sekhukhuneland, northern Leolo Mountains. |
Habitat and Ecology |
Major system | Terrestrial |
Major habitats | Sekhukhune Mountain Bushveld |
Description | Dry savanna, among boulders on southwest-facing, rocky norite slopes. |
Threats |
| The area where this species occurs is very remote, and is at present lightly utilized for firewood harvesting and grazing (D. Raimondo pers. obs.) Increasing grazing pressure in future could potentially lead to the degradation of the habitat, but is unlikely to impact the species directly as it grows protected among boulders. Unlike many other species of Plectranthus, P. porcatus is not shade dependent, and the removal of woody vegetation for firewood is unlikely to have a serious impact (P.J.D. Winter pers. comm.)
This species is highly aromatic, and it is possible that it may be utilized by the local community for medicinal purposes, but there is at present no evidence of harvesting and/or declines (P.J.D. Winter pers. comm., Winter and Van Jaarsveld 2005).
Norite are rich in minerals, and is the preferred substrate for mining in Sekhukhuneland (J.E. Burrows pers. comm.) - species endemic to norite soils in Sekhukhuneland are potentially threatened by mining due to a renewed interest in mining in the area in recent years. |
Population |
Population trend | Stable |
Conservation |
| Not protected. |
Assessment History |
Taxon assessed |
Status and Criteria |
Citation/Red List version | | Plectranthus porcatus Van Jaarsv. & P.J.D.Winter | VU D2 | Raimondo et al. (2009) | |
Bibliography |
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.
Winter, P.J.D. and Van Jaarsveld, E.J. 2005. Plectranthus porcatus, a new species endemic to the Sekhukhuneland Centre of Plant Endemism, Limpopo Province, South Africa. Bothalia 35(2):169-173.
|
Citation |
| Manyama, P.A., von Staden, L. & Winter, P.J.D. 2008. Plectranthus porcatus Van Jaarsv. & P.J.D.Winter. National Assessment: Red List of South African Plants version . Accessed on 2025/04/14 |
Comment on this assessment
