Schoenus arenicola

Taxonomy
Scientific Name
Schoenus arenicola T.L.Elliott & Muasya
Higher Classification
Monocotyledons
Family
CYPERACEAE
Synonyms
Tetraria brachyphylla Levyns, Tetraria sylvatica (Nees) C.B.Clarke var. pseudocuspidata Kük.
National Status
Status and Criteria
Least Concern
Assessment Date
2013/01/16
Assessor(s)
N.A. Helme & L. von Staden
Justification
A widespread (EOO 25 507 km²) species, but declining due to ongoing habitat loss and competition from alien invasive plants. It is however still common, occurring at more than 30 locations and not yet in danger of extinction. It is therefore assessed as Least Concern.
Distribution
Endemism
South African endemic
Provincial distribution
Eastern Cape, Western Cape
Range
This species is known to occur from the Cape Peninsula to Plettenberg Bay.
Habitat and Ecology
Major system
Terrestrial
Major habitats
Fynbos
Description
Plants grow in coastal dunes and limestone fynbos.
Threats
Threatened by habitat loss to coastal development and urban expansion as well as competition from alien invasive plants.
Population

It is a widespread and often overlooked species that is still very common in spite of ongoing habitat loss (N.A. Helme pers. comm. 2012).


Population trend
Decreasing
Assessment History
Taxon assessed
Status and Criteria
Citation/Red List version
Tetraria brachyphylla LevynsNT B1ab(ii,iii,iv,v)2012.1
Tetraria brachyphylla LevynsNT B1ab(ii,iii,iv,v)Raimondo et al. (2009)
Tetraria brachyphylla LevynsLower Risk - Least Concern Victor (2002)
Tetraria brachyphylla LevynsInsufficiently Known Hilton-Taylor (1996)
Tetraria brachyphylla LevynsUncertain Hall et al. (1980)
Bibliography

Elliott, T.L. and Muasya, A.M. 2017. Taxonomic realignment in the southern African Tetraria (Cyperaceae, tribe Schoeneae; Schoenus clade). South African Journal of Botany 112:354-360.


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.


Hall, A.V., De Winter, M., De Winter, B. and Van Oosterhout, S.A.M. 1980. Threatened plants of southern Africa. South African National Scienctific Programmes Report 45. CSIR, Pretoria.


Hilton-Taylor, C. 1996. Red data list of southern African plants. Strelitzia 4. South African National Botanical Institute, Pretoria.


Levyns, M.R. 1947. Tetraria and related genera, with special reference to the flora of the Cape Peninsula. Journal of South African Botany 13:73-93.


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.


Victor, J.E. 2002. South Africa. In: J.S. Golding (ed), Southern African plant Red Data Lists. Southern African Botanical Diversity Network Report 14 (pp. 93-120), SABONET, Pretoria.


Citation
Helme, N.A. & von Staden, L. 2013. Schoenus arenicola T.L.Elliott & Muasya. National Assessment: Red List of South African Plants version . Accessed on 2025/04/14

Comment on this assessment Comment on this assessment
Distribution map

© N.A. Helme

© N.A. Helme


Search for images of Schoenus arenicola on iNaturalist