|
Scientific Name | Chironia albiflora Hilliard |
Higher Classification | Dicotyledons |
Family | GENTIANACEAE |
National Status |
Status and Criteria | Rare |
Assessment Date | 2008/06/30 |
Assessor(s) | J.E. Victor, A.E. van Wyk & L. von Staden |
Justification | EOO 470 km², known from five subpopulations, but probably overlooked. Rare, occurring as scattered individuals. Most subpopulations occur on sheltered sites in rocky outcrops and deep within forested ravines, where they are not threatened. |
Distribution |
Endemism | South African endemic |
Provincial distribution | Eastern Cape, KwaZulu-Natal |
Range | Umtamvuna to Magwa Falls. |
Habitat and Ecology |
Major system | Terrestrial |
Major habitats | Pondoland-Ugu Sandstone Coastal Sourveld |
Description | Msikaba Formation Sandstone, in variable habitats including riverine forests, stream margins, scrubby vegetation on rocky outcrops and, rarely, open grassland. |
Threats |
| Individuals in open grassland sites may be threatened by overgrazing and too frequent fire, a major cause of grassland degradation and loss of grassland forb diversity in KwaZulu-Natal and Pondoland. However, most subpopulations occur on sheltered sites and are not threatened. |
Population |
Population trend | Stable |
Assessment History |
Taxon assessed |
Status and Criteria |
Citation/Red List version | | Chironia albiflora Hilliard | Rare | Raimondo et al. (2009) | | Chironia albiflora Hilliard | VU | Scott-Shaw (1999) | |
Bibliography |
Marais, W. and Verdoorn, I.C. 1963. Gentianaceae. In: R.A. Dyer, L.E. Codd and H.B. Rycroft (eds). Flora of Southern Africa 26 (Myrsinaceae-Apocynaceae):171-243. Botanical Research 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.
Scott-Shaw, C.R. 1999. Rare and threatened plants of KwaZulu-Natal and neighbouring regions. KwaZulu-Natal Nature Conservation Service, Pietermaritzburg.
|
Citation |
| Victor, J.E., van Wyk, A.E. & von Staden, L. 2008. Chironia albiflora Hilliard. National Assessment: Red List of South African Plants version . Accessed on 2025/04/14 |
Comment on this assessment
