Taxonomy
Scientific Name
Pterygodium excisum (Lindl.) Schltr.
Higher Classification
Monocotyledons
Family
ORCHIDACEAE
Synonyms
Corycium excisum Lindl.
National Status
Status and Criteria
Least Concern
Assessment Date
2015/10/01
Assessor(s)
L. von Staden
Justification
A widespread species (EOO 20 889 km²) that has declined extensively on the lowlands, but does not yet meet the criteria for a threatened category. It is estimated to persist at more than 20 locations.
Distribution
Endemism
South African endemic
Provincial distribution
Western Cape
Range
Cederberg to the Cape Peninsula and Agulhas Plain.
Habitat and Ecology
Major system
Terrestrial
Major habitats
Fynbos
Description
Sandy flats, 0-800 m.
Threats
Threatened by ongoing habitat loss on coastal flats. It is possibly already locally extinct on the Cape Flats due to urban expansion. It is threatened by coastal development between Betty's Bay and Pearly Beach, and habitat loss to agricultural expansion in the Sandveld north of Piketberg. Subpopulations on the Agulhas Plain and around Mamre are threatened by competition from dense infestations of alien invasive plants.
Population

This species flowers only after fire, and is seldom seen. Subpopulations consist of only a few individuals up to several hundred plants. It has declined on the Cape coastal lowlands and Cape Flats, but still persists in the Cederberg, on the Cape Peninsula, and the coastal mountain ranges between Betty's Bay and Napier.


Population trend
Decreasing
Notes
There is ongoing scientific debate regarding the placement of this taxon, with some publications (e.g. Johnson and Bytebier 2015) classifying it in the genus Corycium, while others, such as Manning and Goldblatt (2012) include it within Pterygodium.
Assessment History
Taxon assessed
Status and Criteria
Citation/Red List version
Pterygodium excisum (Lindl.) Schltr.Least Concern 2014.1
Corycium excisum Lindl.Least Concern Raimondo et al. (2009)
Corycium excisum Lindl.Lower Risk - Least Concern Victor (2002)
Corycium excisum Lindl.Not Threatened Hilton-Taylor (1996)
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.


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


Johnson, S. and Bytebier, B. 2015. Orchids of South Africa: A field guide. Struik Nature, Cape Town.


Linder, H.P. 1999. Corycium. In: H.P. Linder and H. Kurzweil (eds.), Orchids of southern Africa (pp. 339-350), A.A. Balkema, Rotterdam.


Manning, J.C. and Goldblatt, P. 2012. Plants of the Greater Cape Floristic Region 1: The Core Cape Flora. Strelitzia 29. South African National Biodiversity Institute, Pretoria.


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
von Staden, L. 2015. Pterygodium excisum (Lindl.) Schltr. National Assessment: Red List of South African Plants version . Accessed on 2025/04/14

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Distribution map

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