Taxonomy
Scientific Name
Erica limosa L.Bolus
Higher Classification
Dicotyledons
Family
ERICACEAE
National Status
Status and Criteria
Vulnerable D2
Assessment Date
2020/11/25
Assessor(s)
R.C. Turner & E.G.H. Oliver
Justification
Erica limosa has an extent of occurrence (EOO) of 7.5 km² and an area of occupancy (AOO) of less than 1 km². It has four known locations. The population has declined due to dam construction, the construction of gravel jeep tracks and severe encroachment from invasive alien pines, Acacia saligna and A. mearnsii in drainage lines. It remains potentially threatened by too frequent fire. Erica salteri is included under E. limosa for purposes of this assessment, as the taxonomy will be revised in the near future. It is therefore listed as Vulnerable under criterion D.
Distribution
Endemism
South African endemic
Provincial distribution
Western Cape
Range
This species is endemic to South Africa, and is found in the Cape Peninsula, from Constantiaberg to Muizenberg.
Habitat and Ecology
Major system
Terrestrial
Major habitats
Peninsula Sandstone Fynbos
Description
It occurs in peaty accumulate with quartzitic sand in seepage areas and wetlands associated with mountain streams.
Threats
Some of this species' habitat is already degraded due to infrastructure development such as dams and roads. The area was densely infested by alien invasive pines and acacias, but these have been cleared. Invasive species however require ongoing management and clearing to prevent reinvasion. Erica limosa is also potentially threatened by too frequent fire - the mountains where this species occurs have burnt twice within six years.
Population

There is no information available on the population of this species.


Population trend
Stable
Conservation
It is protected in the Silvermine section of the Table Mountain National Park.
Assessment History
Taxon assessed
Status and Criteria
Citation/Red List version
Erica limosa L.BolusVU D2Raimondo et al. (2009)
Erica limosa L.BolusVulnerable Hilton-Taylor (1996)
Erica limosa L.BolusEndangered Hall et al. (1980)
Bibliography

Baker, H.A. and Oliver, E.G.H. 1967. Ericas in southern Africa. Purnell, Cape Town & Johannesburg.


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.


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.


Helme, N.A. and Trinder-Smith, T.H. 2006. The endemic flora of the Cape Peninsula, South Africa. South African Journal of Botany 72(2):205-210.


Hilton-Taylor, C. 1996. Red data list of southern African plants. Strelitzia 4. South African National Botanical Institute, Pretoria.


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.


Schumann, D., Kirsten, G. and Oliver, E.G.H. 1992. Ericas of South Africa. Fernwood Press, Cape Town.


Citation
Turner, R.C. & Oliver, E.G.H. 2020. Erica limosa L.Bolus. National Assessment: Red List of South African Plants version . Accessed on 2025/04/14

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Distribution map


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