Taxonomy
Scientific Name
Cyphia sylvatica Eckl.
Higher Classification
Dicotyledons
Family
LOBELIACEAE
Synonyms
Cyphia salicifolia C.Presl, Cyphia sylvatica Eckl. var. graminea E.Wimm., Cyphia sylvatica Eckl. var. salicifolia (C.Presl ex Eckl. & Zeyh.) E.Wimm., Cyphia sylvatica Eckl. var. sylvatica
Common Names
Berou (a), Bosbaroe (a), Bosbarroe (a)
National Status
Status and Criteria
Least Concern
Assessment Date
2023/08/18
Assessor(s)
N.N. Mhlongo
Justification
This species is widespread and has an extent of occurrence (EOO) of 56 065 km² and an area of occupancy (AOO) of 368 km². It is known from more than 30 subpopulations. The species is currently assessed as Least Concern as it is too abundant to be at risk of extinction in the near future, however population trends should be monitored.
Distribution
Endemism
South African endemic
Provincial distribution
Eastern Cape, KwaZulu-Natal, Western Cape
Range
This species occurs from Swartberg in the Western Cape to Grahamstown in the Eastern Cape.
Habitat and Ecology
Major system
Terrestrial
Major habitats
Sundays Valley Thicket
Description
Plants grow in stony slopes.
Threats
There is a threat to subpopulations in the Overberg region as a result of the expansion of crop farms. In addition, many subpopulations of this species are heavily infested with invasive alien species. If these are not cleared urgently, they may outcompete native species leading to population declines. One subpopulation (Grasmere, north of Kromme river) is threatened by habitat loss due to infrastructure development (powerlines), which is a continuing slight threat; habitat degradation due to livestock farming.
Population

Six subpopulations in the Overberg region are severely threatened by habitat loss due to agriculture, which is likely to contribute to a population decline. However this species has been recorded in at least 30 subpopulations and there are 120 observations recorded by citizen scientists on iNaturalist between 2010 and 2023. This is an indication that although the population is declining due to habitat loss, it is still locally abundant and widespread across its range.


Population trend
Decreasing
Assessment History
Taxon assessed
Status and Criteria
Citation/Red List version
Cyphia sylvatica Eckl. var. sylvatica Least Concern Raimondo et al. (2009)
Cyphia sylvatica Eckl. var. graminea E.Wimm.Least Concern Raimondo et al. (2009)
Cyphia sylvatica Eckl. var. salicifolia (C.Presl ex Eckl. & Zeyh.) E.Wimm.Least Concern Raimondo et al. (2009)
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.


Govaerts, R. 1996. World Checklist of Seed Plants 1, 2:1-492, MIM, Deurne.


Manning, J.C. and Goldblatt, P. 2012. Plants of the Greater Cape Floristic Region 1: The Core Cape Flora. Strelitzia 29. South African National Biodiversity Institute, Pretoria.


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
Mhlongo, N.N. 2023. Cyphia sylvatica Eckl. National Assessment: Red List of South African Plants version . Accessed on 2025/04/20

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Distribution map


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