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Scientific Name | Erica physantha Benth. |
Higher Classification | Dicotyledons |
Family | ERICACEAE |
National Status |
Status and Criteria | Critically Endangered B1ab(i,ii,iii,iv)+2ab(i,ii,iii,iv) |
Assessment Date | 2007/02/09 |
Assessor(s) | R.C. Turner & E.G.H. Oliver |
Justification | A single location remains, where approximately 3000 plants occur within a 0.01 km² road verge. Declining due to invasive alien infestations, brush cutting, overgrazing and erosion. |
Distribution |
Endemism | South African endemic |
Provincial distribution | Western Cape |
Range | Platkop near Riversdale. |
Habitat and Ecology |
Major system | Terrestrial |
Major habitats | Swellendam Silcrete Fynbos |
Description | Dry, loamy silcrete hills. |
Threats |
| The plains and lower hills around Riversdale are over 90% transformed, mainly for wheat cultivation, and virtually nothing of this species' habitat remains. Currently a single subpopulation of about 3000 plants is the only known to remain, and these plants occur along a narrow road reserve, where they are threatened by competition from alien invasive plants, brush cutting and clearing of road verges, overgrazing and erosion. |
Population |
Population trend | Decreasing |
Conservation |
| Not currently conserved in any formally protected area. |
Assessment History |
Taxon assessed |
Status and Criteria |
Citation/Red List version | | Erica physantha Benth. | CR B1ab(i,ii,iii,iv) | Raimondo et al. (2009) | | Erica physantha Benth. | Endangered | Hilton-Taylor (1996) | |
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.
Hilton-Taylor, C. 1996. Red data list of southern African plants. Strelitzia 4. South African National Botanical 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.
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Citation |
| Turner, R.C. & Oliver, E.G.H. 2007. Erica physantha Benth. National Assessment: Red List of South African Plants version . Accessed on 2025/04/14 |
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