| Scientific Name | Thamnochortus erectus (Thunb.) Mast. | Higher Classification | Monocotyledons | Family | RESTIONACEAE | Synonyms | Restio elongatus Thunb., Restio erectus Thunb., Staberoha caricina (Mast.) T.Durand & Schinz, Thamnochortus burchellii Mast., Thamnochortus caricinus Mast., Thamnochortus elongatus (Thunb.) Mast., Thamnochortus floribundus Kunth, Thamnochortus scirpiformis Mast. | Common Names | Jakkalsstert (a), Wyfieriet (a) |
National Status | Status and Criteria | Least Concern | Assessment Date | 2018/06/18 | Assessor(s) | L. von Staden | Justification | Thamnochortus erectus is a widespread and common species. It is declining due to ongoing habitat loss, but is not yet in danger of extinction. It has an extent of occurrence (EOO) of 75 991 km², and is therefore listed as Least Concern. |
Distribution | Endemism | South African endemic | Provincial distribution | Western Cape | Range | This species is endemic to the Western Cape, South Africa, where it occurs in coastal areas from Lambert's Bay to the Cape Peninsula, and eastwards to Knysna. |
Habitat and Ecology | Major system | Terrestrial | Major habitats | Atlantis Sand Fynbos, Canca Limestone Fynbos, De Hoop Limestone Fynbos, Agulhas Limestone Fynbos, Albertinia Sand Fynbos, Agulhas Sand Fynbos, Peninsula Sandstone Fynbos, Cape Flats Sand Fynbos, Overberg Sandstone Fynbos, Hopefield Sand Fynbos, Saldanha Flats Strandveld, Langebaan Dune Strandveld, Cape Flats Dune Strandveld, Overberg Dune Strandveld, Hartenbos Dune Thicket, Hangklip Sand Fynbos, Namaqualand Strandveld, Leipoldtville Sand Fynbos, Kogelberg Sandstone Fynbos, Saldanha Granite Strandveld, Cederberg Sandstone Fynbos, Blombos Strandveld, Swartland Alluvium Fynbos, Lourensford Alluvium Fynbos, Swellendam Silcrete Fynbos, Knysna Sand Fynbos, Saldanha Limestone Strandveld, Lambert's Bay Strandveld, Swartland Granite Renosterveld, North Langeberg Sandstone Fynbos, Piketberg Sandstone Fynbos, South Langeberg Sandstone Fynbos, Boland Granite Fynbos, Peninsula Granite Fynbos, Garden Route Granite Fynbos, Olifants Sandstone Fynbos, Graafwater Sandstone Fynbos, South Outeniqua Sandstone Fynbos, Goukamma Dune Thicket, North Outeniqua Sandstone Fynbos, Potberg Sandstone Fynbos, Swartland Alluvium Renosterveld | Description | It occurs on well-drained sandy coastal flats and lower slopes. |
Threats | | Thamnochortus erectus is used extensively for thatching, and is harvested commercially in the Albertinia area (Linder 2011), but due to its resprouting ability, is not suspected to have a negative impact on the population (Campbell 2006). It is also threatened and by now mostly extinct on the Cape Flats due to habitat loss to urban expansion, and elsewhere along the southern Cape coast it is threatened by habitat loss to coastal development and competition from alien invasive plants. It is however still very common, and these threats do not have a significant impact on the population at present. |
Population | This species is common on the southern coastal plain of the Western Cape (Linder 2011). It is declining due to ongoing habitat loss.
| Population trend | Decreasing |
Assessment History |
Taxon assessed |
Status and Criteria |
Citation/Red List version | | Thamnochortus erectus (Thunb.) Mast. | Least Concern | Raimondo et al. (2009) | |
Bibliography | Campbell, T.A. 2006. The effects of fire and harvesting on Restionaceae spp. (Thamnochortus insignis and T. erectus) with different life histories: a matrix modelling approach. Unpublished M.Sc., University of Stellenbosch, Stellenbosch.
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.
Linder, H.P. 1990. A morphological study on the Thamnochortus erectus complex (Restionaceae). South African Journal of Botany 56(4):443-449.
Linder, H.P. 2011. The African Restionaceae: an Interactive Key identification and description system. Version 6. http://www.systbot.uzh.ch/Bestimmungsschluessel/Restionaceae_en.html. Downloaded.
Manning, J.C. and Goldblatt, P. 2012. Plants of the Greater Cape Floristic Region 1: The Core Cape Flora. Strelitzia 29. South African National Biodiversity 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.
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Citation | | von Staden, L. 2018. Thamnochortus erectus (Thunb.) Mast. National Assessment: Red List of South African Plants version . Accessed on 2025/05/22 |
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