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Scientific Name | Erica amphigena Guthrie & Bolus |
Higher Classification | Dicotyledons |
Family | ERICACEAE |
National Status |
Status and Criteria | Vulnerable D2 |
Assessment Date | 2012/08/09 |
Assessor(s) | R.C. Turner, D.A. Kamundi & L. von Staden |
Justification | Plants at three known locations are potentially threatened by too frequent fire and competition from alien invasive plants. |
Distribution |
Endemism | South African endemic |
Provincial distribution | Western Cape |
Range | Palmiet River Valley between the Dwarsrivier Mountain and Houwhoek. |
Habitat and Ecology |
Major system | Terrestrial |
Major habitats | Kogelberg Sandstone Fynbos |
Description | Lower to middle slopes in Kogelberg Sandstone Fynbos. |
Threats |
| Although the lower slopes and flats of the Palmiet River Valley with richer clay soils is extensively transformed, habitat loss on sandstone slopes surrounding the valley is relatively less severe, and confined to a few timber plantations, which may have caused some decline in the population in the past. Forestry is however no longer expanding in the Western Cape, and further habitat loss is unlikely, especially since all three known locations fall within provincial nature reserves.
The subpopulation on the Houwhoek Mountain is potentially threatened by too frequent fire - the mountain has burnt at least three times within 20 years. Some plants may also have been lost to road construction in the past.
Across the valley, plants at two other locations are potentially threatened by competition from alien invasive plants, particularly escaping pine seedlings from adjoining timber plantations, as well as alien acacia species. |
Population |
A rare species that is seldom recorded.
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Population trend | Stable |
Assessment History |
Taxon assessed |
Status and Criteria |
Citation/Red List version | | Erica amphigena Guthrie & Bolus | VU D2 | Raimondo et al. (2009) | |
Bibliography |
Bolus, H., Guthrie, F. and Brown, N.E. 1909. Ericaceae. In: W.T. Thiselton-Dyer (ed). Flora Capensis IV Section I (Vacciniaceae to Gentianeae):2-418. Lovell Reeve & Co., Ltd., London.
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.
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.
Schumann, D., Kirsten, G. and Oliver, E.G.H. 1992. Ericas of South Africa. Fernwood Press, Cape Town.
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Citation |
| Turner, R.C., Kamundi, D.A. & von Staden, L. 2012. Erica amphigena Guthrie & Bolus. National Assessment: Red List of South African Plants version . Accessed on 2025/04/14 |
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