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Scientific Name | Disa amoena H.P.Linder |
Higher Classification | Monocotyledons |
Family | ORCHIDACEAE |
National Status |
Status and Criteria | Vulnerable D2 |
Assessment Date | 2012/09/07 |
Assessor(s) | D. McMurtry, L. Grobler, S. Burns & L. von Staden |
Justification | Known from a very small area (EOO 34.3 km², AOO < 20 km²) where it is quite abundant. Potentially threatened by afforestation, infrastructure development and alien plant invasion. |
Distribution |
Endemism | South African endemic |
Provincial distribution | Mpumalanga |
Range | Lydenburg, between Mauchsberg and Mount Anderson. |
Habitat and Ecology |
Major system | Terrestrial |
Major habitats | Long Tom Pass Montane Grassland |
Description | Well-drained gravely soil, gentle to moderate slopes, in fairly short grassland, and on mountain plateaus. |
Threats |
| Threatened by afforestation in the past, this species has probably lost much of its former range to afforestation, but currently forestry is not actively converting grasslands to new plantations. However, many alien invasive weeds and pine seedlings are invading remaining grasslands between plantations.
This species prefers relatively flat areas on mountain tops, and does not grow on slopes, these sites are ideal for radio and cellphone masts, which, if built, would disturb the habitat and cause loss of individuals. One specimen, collected near a transmitter tower is from a formerly extensive population, of which part was destroyed when the tower was installed. (D. McMurtry and L. Grobler pers. comm.) However, this is unlikely to cause extensive ongoing declines in the number of subpopulations, and is a potential threat that may lead to sporadic declines. |
Population |
This species is fairly common in its small distribution range, and occurs as large populations, also common along road verges (Lourens Grobler, pers. comm.)
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Population trend | Stable |
Conservation |
| De Kuilen Nature Reserve, Long Tom Pass. |
Notes |
| The ridge of high mountains between Sabie and Lydenburg is inadequately explored botanically, and no data is as yet available to indicate the actual distribution of this species (Linder 1981). |
Assessment History |
Taxon assessed |
Status and Criteria |
Citation/Red List version | | Disa amoena H.P.Linder | VU D2 | Raimondo et al. (2009) | | Disa amoena H.P.Linder | VU D2 | Victor (2002) | | Disa amoena H.P.Linder | Vulnerable | Hilton-Taylor (1997) | |
Bibliography |
Hilton-Taylor, C. 1997. Red Data List of southern African plants. 2. Corrections and additions. Bothalia 27(2):195-209.
Linder, H.P. 1981. Taxonomic studies in the Disinae. III. A revision of Disa Berg. excluding sect. Micranthae Lindl. Contributions from the Bolus Herbarium 9:1-370.
Linder, H.P. and Kurzweil, H. 1999. Orchids of southern Africa. A.A. Balkema, Rotterdam.
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.
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.
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Citation |
| McMurtry, D., Grobler, L., Burns, S. & von Staden, L. 2012. Disa amoena H.P.Linder. National Assessment: Red List of South African Plants version . Accessed on 2025/04/14 |
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