Taxonomy
Scientific Name
Brachystelma ngomense R.A.Dyer
Higher Classification
Dicotyledons
Family
APOCYNACEAE
National Status
Status and Criteria
Endangered B1ab(iii)+2ab(iii)
Assessment Date
2007/05/15
Assessor(s)
C.R. Scott-Shaw, I.M. Johnson & L. von Staden
Justification
Known from five locations within a restricted range (EOO 386 km²). It has lost 34% of its habitat to afforestation since 1950 (generation length is predicted to be less than 15 years). Remaining grasslands are currently used as communal rangelands and are so severely overgrazed that a few hardy native species are beginning to dominate, completely transforming the grassland structure. There is also generally very poor fire management.
Distribution
Endemism
South African endemic
Provincial distribution
KwaZulu-Natal
Range
Ngome.
Habitat and Ecology
Major system
Terrestrial
Major habitats
Northern Zululand Mistbelt Grassland
Description
Mistbelt grassland, restricted to seepage aprons at the edges of dolerite rock sheets, not found in open grassland, 1100-1200 m.
Threats
At least 34% of the mistbelt grasslands around Ngome have been transformed by commercial forestry plantations (calculated using GIS). The exotic plantations at Ngome were first planted in 1950 (Marwick 1973), which probably represents a time period longer than three generations of this species, as Brachystelmas are thought not to be that long lived (S.P. Bester pers. comm.). Remaining grasslands are currently used as communal rangelands and are severely overgrazed to such an extent that much of the diversity has already been lost and a few hardy native species are beginning to take over the habitat, completely transforming the grassland structure (Rob Scott-Shaw, pers. obs. of experimental monitoring plots). There is also generally very poor fire management of the grasslands - in many areas the grasslands are also changing as a result of fires being excluded (Scott-Shaw 1999). As a result of the combination of these factors it is inevitable that this species will decline over time, in spite of the fact that it grows in sites that are more safe from direct grazing pressure than open grasslands (C.R. Scott-Shaw pers. comm. 2007). Signs of prospecting for mining have been found on the farm Bona Esperanza (I. Johnson pers. obs.), but mining is at the moment only a potential threat to the population at this site.
Population

Near Ngome sawmill there are two subpopulations of about 50 mature individuals (Scott-Shaw 1999). Subpopulations on four other farms each consist of hundreds of individuals (Isabel Johnson pers. comm. 2007).


Population trend
Decreasing
Assessment History
Taxon assessed
Status and Criteria
Citation/Red List version
Brachystelma ngomense R.A.DyerEN B1ab(iii)+2ab(iii)Raimondo et al. (2009)
Brachystelma ngomense R.A.DyerVU D2Victor (2002)
Brachystelma ngomense R.A.DyerEN B1B2abcdeScott-Shaw (1999)
Brachystelma ngomense R.A.DyerEndangered Hilton-Taylor (1996)
Bibliography

Dyer, R.A. 1977. Two new species of Brachystelma. Bothalia 12(2):254-255.


Dyer, R.A. 1978. Brachystelma ngomense. Flowering Plants of Africa 45(1-2):t.1769A.


Dyer, R.A. 1980. Brachystelma, Ceropegia and Riocreuxia. In: O.A. Leistner (ed). Flora of Southern Africa 27 Part 4:1-88. Botanical Research Institute, Pretoria.


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


Marwick, C.W. 1973. KwaMahlati: The story of forestry in Zululand. Bulletin 49. The Department of Forestry, Pretoria.


Mucina, L. and Rutherford, M.C. (eds). 2006. The vegetation of South Africa, Lesotho and Swaziland. Strelitzia 19. 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.


Scott-Shaw, C.R. 1999. Rare and threatened plants of KwaZulu-Natal and neighbouring regions. KwaZulu-Natal Nature Conservation Service, Pietermaritzburg.


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
Scott-Shaw, C.R., Johnson, I.M. & von Staden, L. 2007. Brachystelma ngomense R.A.Dyer. National Assessment: Red List of South African Plants version . Accessed on 2025/04/14

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Distribution map

© I.M. Johnson


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