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Scientific Name | Melhania polygama I.Verd. |
Higher Classification | Dicotyledons |
Family | MALVACEAE |
National Status |
Status and Criteria | Critically Rare |
Assessment Date | 2018/05/14 |
Assessor(s) | L. von Staden |
Justification | Melhania polygama is a very rare and poorly known species, last recorded in 1964. It has an extent of occurrence (EOO) of less than 10 km², and is known from a single location, but it is possibly overlooked in other similar habitat. The only known subpopulation is in a protected area and is not threatened. It is therefore listed under the IUCN 3.1. criteria as Least Concern but is nationally recognised as Critically Rare. |
Distribution |
Endemism | South African endemic |
Provincial distribution | KwaZulu-Natal |
Range | This species is endemic to South Africa, and is found in the Umfolozi Game Reserve. |
Habitat and Ecology |
Major system | Terrestrial |
Major habitats | Northern Zululand Sourveld |
Description | It occurs on grassy hill slopes. |
Threats |
| There are no known threats to the only known subpopulation as it occurs within a protected area. Similar habitat extends outside the reserve, and if the species occurs in these areas, it could potentially be threatened. |
Population |
Melhania polygama is a rare and very poorly known species. It has been recorded once, from a single hill in the Umfolozi Game Reserve in 1964. Similar suitable habitat needs to be surveyed, as more subpopulations are likely to exist.
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Population trend | Stable |
Conservation |
| It is conserved within the Umfolozi Game Reserve. |
Assessment History |
Taxon assessed |
Status and Criteria |
Citation/Red List version | | Melhania polygama I.Verd. | Critically Rare | 2020.1 | | Melhania polygama I.Verd. | Rare | Raimondo et al. (2009) | | Melhania polygama I.Verd. | Indeterminate | Hilton-Taylor (1996) | |
Bibliography |
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.
Verdoorn, I.C. 1981. Revision of Melhania in southern Africa. Bothalia 13(3&4):263-273.
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Citation |
| von Staden, L. 2018. Melhania polygama I.Verd. National Assessment: Red List of South African Plants version . Accessed on 2025/05/24 |
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