Taxonomy
Scientific Name
Marsilea schelpeana Launert
Higher Classification
Ferns
Family
MARSILEACEAE
National Status
Status and Criteria
Vulnerable B1ab(ii,iii)+2ab(ii,iii)
Assessment Date
2004/05/26
Assessor(s)
J.E. Victor & A.P. Dold
Justification
EOO 4108 km², known from less than 10 locations, and declining due to ongoing habitat loss and degradation.
Distribution
Endemism
South African endemic
Provincial distribution
Eastern Cape, Western Cape
Range
Bredasdorp to Port Elizabeth.
Habitat and Ecology
Major system
Freshwater
Major habitats
Mossel Bay Shale Renosterveld, Tsitsikamma Sandstone Fynbos, Albany Alluvial Vegetation, Sundays Valley Thicket, Grass Ridge Bontveld, Bethelsdorp Bontveld
Description
Margins of seasonal pools and along water courses from near sea level to about 200 m.
Threats
Marsilea schelpeana is threatened by ongoing habitat loss and degradation. Around Port Elizabeth and Grahamstown it is declining due to habitat loss to urban expansion and spreading informal settlements (J.E. Burrows, A.P. Dold pers. comm. June 2004). Across the Overberg and southern Cape, lowland areas have been extensively converted to crop fields, with less than 10% of natural vegetation remaining intact. Although wetlands are not generally cultivated, agricultural practices lead to habitat degradation such as eutrophication, pollution (particularly from pesticides and herbicides), and altered water flow due to infilling, damming and channelling of streams.
Population
Population trend
Decreasing
Assessment History
Taxon assessed
Status and Criteria
Citation/Red List version
Marsilea schelpeana LaunertVU B1ab(ii,iii)+2ab(ii,iii)Raimondo et al. (2009)
Marsilea schelpeana LaunertVulnerable Hilton-Taylor (1996)
Marsilea schelpeana LaunertVulnerable Hall et al. (1980)
Bibliography

Burrows, J.E. 1990. Southern African ferns and fern allies. Frandsen Publishers, Sandton.


Cook, C.D.K. 2004. Aquatic and wetland plants of southern Africa. Backhuys Publishers, Leiden, The Netherlands.


Crouch, N.R., Klopper, R.R., Burrows, J.E. and Burrows, S.M. 2011. Ferns of southern Africa: A comprehensive guide. Struik Nature, Cape Town.


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.


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.


Sieben, E.J.J. 2009. The status and distribution of vascular plants (Magnoliophyta, Lycophyta, Pteridophyta). In: W.R.T. Darwall, K.G. Smith, D. Tweddle and P. Skelton (eds.), The status and distribution of freshwater biodiversity in southern Africa (pp. 83-98), IUCN and SAIAB, Gland, Switzerland and Grahamstown, South Africa.


Victor, J.E. and Dold, A.P. 2003. Threatened plants of the Albany Centre of Floristic Endemism, South Africa. South African Journal of Science 99:437-446.


Vlok, J. and Schutte-Vlok, A.L. 2010. Plants of the Klein Karoo. Umdaus Press, Hatfield.


Citation
Victor, J.E. & Dold, A.P. 2004. Marsilea schelpeana Launert. National Assessment: Red List of South African Plants version . Accessed on 2025/04/13

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Distribution map

© J.H. Vlok/A.L. Schutte-Vlok

© J.E. Burrows


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