Taxonomy
Scientific Name
Brachystelma petraeum R.A.Dyer
Higher Classification
Dicotyledons
Family
APOCYNACEAE
National Status
Status and Criteria
Vulnerable D2
Assessment Date
2015/04/16
Assessor(s)
H. Mtshali, R. Peckover & J.E. Victor
Justification
Known from three locations and potentially threatened by competition from invasive alien pines and habitat degradation due to overgrazing.
Distribution
Endemism
South African endemic
Provincial distribution
KwaZulu-Natal
Range
KwaZulu-Natal Midlands and Drakensberg foothills.
Habitat and Ecology
Major system
Terrestrial
Major habitats
Midlands Mistbelt Grassland, Mooi River Highland Grassland, Drakensberg Foothill Moist Grassland
Description
Moist grassland, in humus pockets in crevices of large, flat rock surfaces and flat, damp basal gravel.
Threats
Although the slopes of the Byrne Valley and Boschberg near Boston are under plantations, the upper escarpment areas are not. It may be because soils are too shallow and rocky to establish plantations. Pine seedlings could however easily escape from surrounding plantations onto these rocky areas and establish as they are protected from grassland fires in such habitats. On the Boschberg it is also potentially threatened by habitat degradation and trampling due to grazing.
Population
Population trend
Stable
Assessment History
Taxon assessed
Status and Criteria
Citation/Red List version
Brachystelma petraeum R.A.DyerVU D2Raimondo et al. (2009)
Brachystelma petraeum R.A.DyerLower Risk - Near Threatened Victor (2002)
Brachystelma petraeum R.A.DyerData Deficient Scott-Shaw (1999)
Brachystelma petraeum R.A.DyerRare Hilton-Taylor (1996)
Bibliography

Downs, P.E. 1984. Brachystelma petraeum. British Cactus and Succulent Journal 2(3):67-68.


Dyer, R.A. 1977. New records of Brachystelma. Journal of South African Botany 43(1):9-20.


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.


Dyer, R.A. 1983. Ceropegia, Brachystelma and Riocreuxia in southern Africa. A.A. Balkema, Rotterdam, Netherlands.


Hilton-Taylor, C. 1996. Red data list of southern African plants. Strelitzia 4. South African National Botanical Institute, 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
Mtshali, H., Peckover, R. & Victor, J.E. 2015. Brachystelma petraeum R.A.Dyer. National Assessment: Red List of South African Plants version . Accessed on 2025/04/14

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Distribution map

© D. Styles

© D. Styles


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