Taxonomy
Scientific Name
Brachystelma tenellum R.A.Dyer
Higher Classification
Dicotyledons
Family
APOCYNACEAE
National Status
Status and Criteria
Vulnerable D2
Assessment Date
2008/06/25
Assessor(s)
L. von Staden, D. Styles, C.R. Scott-Shaw & J.E. Victor
Justification
A range-restricted species within Pondoland (EOO 324 km²). It is a rare, habitat specialist restricted to rocky outcrops (estimated AOO <20 km²). Known from five locations and potentially threatened in the southern part of its range by livestock trampling.
Distribution
Endemism
South African endemic
Provincial distribution
Eastern Cape, KwaZulu-Natal
Range
Oribi Flats to the Mnyameni River.
Habitat and Ecology
Major system
Terrestrial
Major habitats
Pondoland-Ugu Sandstone Coastal Sourveld, KwaZulu-Natal Coastal Belt Grassland
Description
Coastal grasslands, in shallow soil pockets in rocky outcrops and on cliffs, restricted to Msikaba Formation Sandstone.
Threats
As this species occurs on rocky outcrops it has been fairly well protected from habitat destruction of grasslands in southern KwaZulu-Natal, mainly due to sugarcane cultivation (Craib 1993, D. Styles pers. comm.) as well as from too frequent fires which has greatly reduced the diversity of coastal grasslands (C.R. Scott-Shaw pers. comm.) In the southern part of the range it may be potentially threatened by trampling by livestock in communal rangelands.
Population
Population trend
Stable
Notes
Craib (1993) reports finding this species along the Umkomaas River, which is quite some distance further north of the border of the Pondoland region and the boundaries of Msikaba Formation Sandstone. Whether this species occurs on Natal Group Sandstone, which is found further north, has not yet been verified.
Assessment History
Taxon assessed
Status and Criteria
Citation/Red List version
Brachystelma tenellum R.A.DyerVU D2Raimondo et al. (2009)
Brachystelma tenellum R.A.DyerLower Risk - Near Threatened Victor (2002)
Brachystelma tenellum R.A.DyerLower Risk - Near Threatened Scott-Shaw (1999)
Brachystelma tenellum R.A.DyerVulnerable Hilton-Taylor (1996)
Bibliography

Abbott, A., Van Wyk, A.E., Johnson, D.N. and Scott-Shaw, C.R. 2000. Checklist of the macrofungi, lichens, bryophytes and vascular plants of the Umtamvuna Nature Reserve, South Africa. Lammergeyer 46:1-69.


Craib, C. 1993. Field studies and cultivation of some Brachystelma species in the eastern Cape, Natal, the eastern Free State (including Qua Qua), and the Transvaal. Excelsa 16:11-23.


Dold, T. 2003. Notes on the recently described Brachystelma cummingii and its closest relative B. tenellum. Asklepios 88:4-7.


Dyer, R.A. 1973. Brachystelma tenellum. Flowering Plants of Africa 42(3-4):t.1664.


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.


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
von Staden, L., Styles, D., Scott-Shaw, C.R. & Victor, J.E. 2008. Brachystelma tenellum R.A.Dyer. National Assessment: Red List of South African Plants version . Accessed on 2025/04/14

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Distribution map


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