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Scientific Name | Aspidoglossum demissum Kupicha |
Higher Classification | Dicotyledons |
Family | APOCYNACEAE |
National Status |
Status and Criteria | Vulnerable D2 |
Assessment Date | 2015/07/16 |
Assessor(s) | H. Mtshali, S.P. Bester & L. von Staden |
Justification | A range-restricted (EOO 28 km²), localized habitat specialist, known from four locations and potentially threatened by overgrazing. |
Distribution |
Endemism | South African endemic |
Provincial distribution | KwaZulu-Natal, Mpumalanga |
Range | Volksrust to Wakkerstroom. |
Habitat and Ecology |
Major system | Terrestrial |
Major habitats | Wakkerstroom Montane Grassland |
Description | Edges of sheetrock on mountain summits above 2000 m in Wakkerstroom Montane Grassland. |
Threats |
| This species is known from four properties, three adjacent properties in the Wakkerstroom district, and one near Volksrust. Grasslands on all four properties are used for grazing of livestock. Judging by the condition of the grasslands, grazing pressure is currently low (S.P. Bester pers. obs.), and grazing is not suspected to be a threat to this species at present. Should management practises change, and grazing pressure increase, the population could potentially be impacted. |
Population |
This species is a localized habitat specialist, currently known from two subpopulations, about 40 km apart. Surveys of similar, suitable habitat on mountain summits in the intervening areas have thus far failed to locate and other subpopulations (S.P. Bester pers. comm. 2015).
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Population trend | Stable |
Assessment History |
Taxon assessed |
Status and Criteria |
Citation/Red List version | | Aspidoglossum demissum Kupicha | VU D2 | 2015.1 | | Aspidoglossum demissum Kupicha | Data Deficient | Raimondo et al. (2009) | | Aspidoglossum demissum Kupicha | Data Deficient | Scott-Shaw (1999) | | Aspidoglossum demissum Kupicha | Endangered | Hilton-Taylor (1996) | |
Bibliography |
Hilton-Taylor, C. 1996. Red data list of southern African plants. Strelitzia 4. South African National Botanical Institute, Pretoria.
Kupicha, F.K. 1984. Studies on African Asclepiadaceae. Kew Bulletin 38(4):599-672.
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 |
| Mtshali, H., Bester, S.P. & von Staden, L. 2015. Aspidoglossum demissum Kupicha. National Assessment: Red List of South African Plants version . Accessed on 2025/04/14 |
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