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Scientific Name | Isolepis expallescens Kunth |
Higher Classification | Monocotyledons |
Family | CYPERACEAE |
Synonyms | Scirpus expallescens (Kunth) Boeck. |
National Status |
Status and Criteria | Vulnerable D2 |
Assessment Date | 2016/11/11 |
Assessor(s) | M. Muasya & D. Raimondo |
Justification | Isolepis expallescens is a range-restricted habitat specialist. Its extent of occurrence (EOO) is 102 km² and it is known from three locations. It is potentially threatened by habitat loss and degradation due to overgrazing and shale gas extraction. It is therefore listed as Vulnerable under the criteria D2. |
Distribution |
Endemism | South African endemic |
Provincial distribution | Northern Cape |
Range | This species is endemic to South Africa, and is found in Nuweveld Mountains between Fraserburg and Victoria West. |
Habitat and Ecology |
Major system | Terrestrial |
Major habitats | Eastern Upper Karoo, Roggeveld Shale Renosterveld |
Description | It grows in damp areas along stream channels. |
Threats |
| Isolepis expallescens is potentially threatened by habitat degradation, particularly erosion, as a result of overstocking of rangelands. Its distribution range also falls within an area earmarked for shale gas extraction, which is likely to lead to extensive habitat loss and degradation, should large-scale gas extraction plans proceed. |
Population |
This species is known from only three collections, but its distribution range is botanically very poorly explored. It is a localized habitat specialist, and current records indicate that it is endemic to the Nuweveld Mountains.
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Population trend | Stable |
Assessment History |
Taxon assessed |
Status and Criteria |
Citation/Red List version | | Isolepis expallescens Kunth | VU D2 | 2017.1 | | Isolepis expallescens Kunth | Least Concern | Raimondo et al. (2009) | |
Bibliography |
Magee, A.R. and Boatwright, J.S. (eds). In prep. Plants of the Karoo: A Conspectus of the Nama-Karoo and Adjacent Summer-Rainfall Regions of the Northern and Western Cape Provinces. Strelitzia.
Muasya, A.M. and Simpson, D.A. 2002. A monograph of the genus Isolepis R.Br. (Cyperaceae). Kew Bulletin 57(2):257-362.
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 |
| Muasya, M. & Raimondo, D. 2016. Isolepis expallescens Kunth. National Assessment: Red List of South African Plants version . Accessed on 2025/04/14 |
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