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Scientific Name | Ficinia echinata Muasya |
Higher Classification | Monocotyledons |
Family | CYPERACEAE |
National Status |
Status and Criteria | Vulnerable D1 |
Assessment Date | 2022/05/10 |
Assessor(s) | M. Muasya, C.H. Stirton, C. Archer & H. Mtshali |
Justification | This species is a habitat specialist found on the edges of salt pans. It is endemic to the Western Cape Province, and is known from three subpopulations. It is estimated that the population consists of fewer than 1000 mature individuals. The surrounding Fynbos vegetation has been lost to agriculture in the past. While, the population trend is unknown, it is not suspected to be declining. Monitoring is required as salt pans are increasingly degraded due to agriculture, alien plants and pollution. This species is therefore listed as Vulnerable under criterion D1. |
Distribution |
Endemism | South African endemic |
Provincial distribution | Western Cape |
Habitat and Ecology |
Major system | Terrestrial |
Major habitats | Potberg Sandstone Fynbos |
Description | This habitat specialist occurs on edges of salt pans, below 100 m.a.s.l. |
Threats |
| Much of the surrounding Fynbos vegetation of the small area this species is known from has been lost to agriculture in the past. Salt pans are increasingly degraded due to agriculture, alien plants and pollution. |
Population |
It is known from three small subpopulations, each with less than 300 individuals. Two of the subpopulations are in protected areas and are not currently under threat. The population trend is unknown, but it is not suspected to be declining. Monitoring is required.
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Population trend | Unknown |
Bibliography |
Muasya, A.M., Stirton, C.H. and Archer, C. 2020. Ficinia pygmaea is not conspecific with F. limosa, and a description of a new species of Ficinia (Cyperaceae) from South Africa. South African Journal of Botany 128:128-131.
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Citation |
| Muasya, M., Stirton, C.H., Archer, C. & Mtshali, H. 2022. Ficinia echinata Muasya. National Assessment: Red List of South African Plants version . Accessed on 2025/04/13 |
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