Taxonomy
Scientific Name
Ectadium virgatum E.Mey.
Higher Classification
Dicotyledons
Family
APOCYNACEAE
National Status
Status and Criteria
Near Threatened B1ab(iii)+2ab(iii)
Assessment Date
2015/06/10
Assessor(s)
L. von Staden
Justification
A localized (EOO 1381 km²), but fairly common species, occurring at between 10 and 15 locations and declining due to ongoing habitat degradation.
Distribution
Endemism
Not endemic to South Africa
Provincial distribution
Northern Cape
Range
Orange River Valley in southern Namibia and the Richtersveld between Oranjemund and the Fish River.
Habitat and Ecology
Major system
Terrestrial
Major habitats
Western Gariep Hills Desert, Western Gariep Lowland Desert, Lower Gariep Alluvial Vegetation
Description
Dry river beds and alluvial banks.
Threats
The most severe threat to this species is habitat loss to mining, which is affecting subpopulations along the Orange River between Grootderm and Sendelingsdrif. It has lost some habitat to crop fields on the banks of the Orange River east of Alexander Bay in the past, but there is no current expansion of crop fields. Most of this species' range in South Africa is subjected to severe overgrazing by livestock, but it is still fairly common even in heavily grazed areas. Of concern is the impact of severe reduction of shrub cover on slopes surrounding watercourses (as a result of overgrazing), which leads to more frequent and more severe flash floods in the area, often completely clearing riverine vegetation.
Population
Population trend
Decreasing
Conservation
It is conserved in the Richtersveld National Park.
Assessment History
Taxon assessed
Status and Criteria
Citation/Red List version
Ectadium virgatum E.Mey.NT D2Raimondo et al. (2009)
Ectadium virgatum E.Mey.VU D2Victor (2002)
Bibliography

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.


Snijman, D.A. 2013. Plants of the Greater Cape Floristic Region 2: The extra Cape flora. Strelitzia 30. South African National Biodiversity Institute, Pretoria.


Venter, H.J.T., Kotze, J.D.S. and Verhoeven, R.L. 1990. A taxonomic revision of Ectadium (Periplocaceae). South African Journal of Botany 56(1):113-124.


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. 2015. Ectadium virgatum E.Mey. National Assessment: Red List of South African Plants version . Accessed on 2025/04/18

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Distribution map


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