Taxonomy
Scientific Name
Disa ovalifolia Sond.
Higher Classification
Monocotyledons
Family
ORCHIDACEAE
National Status
Status and Criteria
Near Threatened A4c; B1ab(iii)
Assessment Date
2006/05/18
Assessor(s)
B. Bytebier, L. von Staden & J.E. Victor
Justification
EOO 9264 km², known from 10-15 locations. Rooibos tea cultivation threatens the northern populations around the Nardous Pass, and 10% of its habitat has been transformed in the last 10 years. If this decline continues, it could reach 30% within three generations. However, Rooibos tea cultivation only affects the northern parts of the range, where most collections have been made. We therefore predict an overall 25-30% decline in the total population over a moving time frame of three generations (30 years).
Distribution
Endemism
South African endemic
Provincial distribution
Western Cape
Range
Montagu to Clanwilliam and Darling.
Habitat and Ecology
Major system
Terrestrial
Major habitats
North Hex Sandstone Fynbos, South Langeberg Sandstone Fynbos, Matjiesfontein Shale Fynbos
Description
Seasonally wet, deep sandy soils, 400-1300 m.
Threats
Rooibos tea farming threatens the northern populations around the Nardouw Pass. 10% of the habitat has been transformed in the last 10 years (calculated using GIS). If this decline is to continue, it could possibly reach 30% within three generations. However, Rooibos tea farming only affects the northern parts of the range of this species, where most collections have been made. It is not known whether this indicates that this species is more common in areas affected by Rooibos tea cultivation, in which case it may be far more threatened.
Population
Population trend
Decreasing
Assessment History
Taxon assessed
Status and Criteria
Citation/Red List version
Disa ovalifolia Sond.NT A4c; B1ab(iii)Raimondo et al. (2009)
Disa ovalifolia Sond.Lower Risk - Least Concern Victor (2002)
Disa ovalifolia Sond.Rare Hilton-Taylor (1996)
Disa ovalifolia Sond.Rare Hall et al. (1980)
Bibliography

Goldblatt, P. and Manning, J.C. 2000. Cape Plants: A conspectus of the Cape Flora of South Africa. Strelitzia 9. National Botanical Institute, Cape Town.


Hall, A.V., De Winter, M., De Winter, B. and Van Oosterhout, S.A.M. 1980. Threatened plants of southern Africa. South African National Scienctific Programmes Report 45. CSIR, Pretoria.


Hilton-Taylor, C. 1996. Red data list of southern African plants. Strelitzia 4. South African National Botanical Institute, Pretoria.


Liltved, W.R. and Johnson, S.D. Unpublished. The Cape Orchids - Wild orchids of the Cape Floral Kingdom.


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.


Citation
Bytebier, B., von Staden, L. & Victor, J.E. 2006. Disa ovalifolia Sond. National Assessment: Red List of South African Plants version . Accessed on 2025/04/14

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Distribution map

© W.R. Liltved


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