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Scientific Name | Erica ustulescens Guthrie & Bolus |
Higher Classification | Dicotyledons |
Family | ERICACEAE |
National Status |
Status and Criteria | Critically Endangered B1ab(i,ii,iii); C2a(i) |
Assessment Date | 2012/03/03 |
Assessor(s) | R.C. Turner, E.G.H. Oliver, N.A. Helme & L. von Staden |
Justification | EOO 65 km², between five and six small, severely fragmented subpopulations remain in road verges. The total population numbers fewer than 230 plants, with no subpopulation having more than 50 mature individuals. The habitat has been extensively transformed by agriculture and the population continues to decline due to road construction and maintenance and invasive alien infestations. |
Distribution |
Endemism | South African endemic |
Provincial distribution | Western Cape |
Range | Bot River to Hawston. |
Habitat and Ecology |
Major system | Terrestrial |
Major habitats | Western Ruens Shale Renosterveld, Ruens Silcrete Renosterveld, Elim Ferricrete Fynbos |
Description | Sandy slopes and sometimes lateritic gravel. |
Threats |
| Erica ustulescens's habitat is already extensively transformed, mainly for agriculture (cultivation of vineyards and wheat), and although only small fragments remain, loss is continuing. Remaining subpopulations are confined to road verges and small fragments and are also threatened by competition from alien invasive plants, destruction and disturbance of the habitat for road construction and maintenance, a lack of fire, agricultural expansion and luxury developments. |
Population |
Between five and six small, isolated subpopulations remain on vegetation remnants and roadside fragments, the smallest consisting of five individuals, the largest of about 50 young plants and 5 mature individuals (counted in 2008). It is estimated that the population size is between 149 and 230 mature individuals.
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Population trend | Decreasing |
Conservation |
| No known subpopulation is protected in any formally protected area. |
Assessment History |
Taxon assessed |
Status and Criteria |
Citation/Red List version | | Erica ustulescens Guthrie & Bolus | CR B1ab(i,ii,iii); C2a(i) | Raimondo et al. (2009) | | Erica ustulescens Guthrie & Bolus | Indeterminate | Hilton-Taylor (1996) | |
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.
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.
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., Oliver, E.G.H., Helme, N.A. & von Staden, L. 2012. Erica ustulescens Guthrie & Bolus. National Assessment: Red List of South African Plants version . Accessed on 2025/04/14 |
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