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Scientific Name | Asclepias patens N.E.Br. |
Higher Classification | Dicotyledons |
Family | APOCYNACEAE |
National Status |
Status and Criteria | Near Threatened D2 |
Assessment Date | 2008/06/25 |
Assessor(s) | L. von Staden |
Justification | EOO 310 km². Eight subpopulations are known from historical collections, but there are likely to be more as this species occurs in a poorly explored area. Threats to the habitat include overgrazing, frequent and intense fires, habitat degradation through firewood harvesting and alien plant invasion. Recent collections indicate that some subpopulations are still intact. Too little is known about its population dynamics to say whether it is declining. |
Distribution |
Endemism | South African endemic |
Provincial distribution | Eastern Cape |
Range | Eastern Cape Wild Coast between Port St Johns and Kentani. |
Habitat and Ecology |
Major system | Terrestrial |
Major habitats | Forest, Indian Ocean Coastal Belt |
Description | Coastal grasslands, on the margins of riverine forests. |
Threats |
| Grasslands within the former Transkei area are generally very poor in Asclepias species, which is quite likely as a result of overgrazing and too frequent fire. Despite having milky latex, Asclepias species are quite palatable, and are known to be sensitive to grazing (A. Nicholas pers. obs.) Forest margins are generally being degraded by firewood harvesting, alien invasive encroachment (especially Lantana and Bugweed) and too frequent fires causing forest margins to recede. |
Population |
Population trend | Stable |
Notes |
| Scott-Shaw (1999) cites an incorrect distribution for this species (A. Nicholas pers. comm.). |
Assessment History |
Taxon assessed |
Status and Criteria |
Citation/Red List version | | Asclepias patens N.E.Br. | NT D2 | Raimondo et al. (2009) | | Asclepias patens N.E.Br. | VU B1B2bcd,D2 | Scott-Shaw (1999) | | Asclepias patens N.E.Br. | Vulnerable | Hilton-Taylor (1996) | |
Bibliography |
Hilton-Taylor, C. 1996. Red data list of southern African plants. Strelitzia 4. South African National Botanical Institute, Pretoria.
Nicholas, A. 1982. Taxonomic studies in Asclepias (Asclepiadeae) with particular reference to the narrow-leaved species in southern Africa. University of Natal.
Nicholas, A. 1999. A taxonomic reassessment of the subtribe Asclepiadinae (Asclepiaceae) in Southern Africa. Unpublished Ph.D., University of Durban-Westville, Durban.
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.
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Citation |
| von Staden, L. 2008. Asclepias patens N.E.Br. National Assessment: Red List of South African Plants version . Accessed on 2025/04/14 |
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