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Scientific Name | Pterygodium alticola (Parkman & Schelpe) J.C.Manning & Goldblatt |
Higher Classification | Monocotyledons |
Family | ORCHIDACEAE |
Synonyms | Corycium alticola Parkman & Schelpe |
National Status |
Status and Criteria | Rare |
Assessment Date | 2015/10/01 |
Assessor(s) | N.A. Helme, D. Raimondo & L. von Staden |
Justification | A widespread, but sparsely distributed, montane species that typically occurs as small localized subpopulations with fewer than 20 plants. South African subpopulations have no severe threats, yet it is likely that subpopulations within Lesotho are declining due to habitat degradation as a result of livestock overgrazing. |
Distribution |
Endemism | Not endemic to South Africa |
Provincial distribution | Eastern Cape, Free State, KwaZulu-Natal |
Range | Drakensberg Mountains, from the border between the Free State and KwaZulu-Natal at Witsieshoek across the eastern Free State to the Eastern Cape around Barkly East and Matatiele, including Lesotho. |
Habitat and Ecology |
Major system | Terrestrial |
Major habitats | Zastron Moist Grassland, Lesotho Highland Basalt Grassland, Southern Drakensberg Highland Grassland |
Description | Damp grassland, 1 950-2 400 m. |
Threats |
| Habitat degradation as a result of overgrazing by livestock is a potential threat, particularly within Lesotho. |
Population |
Occurs as localized subpopulations of fewer than 20 plants.
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Population trend | Stable |
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 alticola (Parkman & Schelpe) J.C.Manning & Goldblatt | Rare | 2014.1 | | Corycium alticola Parkman & Schelpe | Least Concern | Raimondo et al. (2009) | |
Bibliography |
Anthony, N.C. and Schelpe, E.A.C.L.E. 1982. New species and new combinations in African Pteridophyta and Orchidaceae. Contributions from the Bolus Herbarium 10:143-164.
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.
Pooley, E. 2003. Mountain flowers: a field guide to the flora of the Drakensberg and Lesotho. Natal Flora Publications Trust, Durban.
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.
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Citation |
| Helme, N.A., Raimondo, D. & von Staden, L. 2015. Pterygodium alticola (Parkman & Schelpe) J.C.Manning & Goldblatt. National Assessment: Red List of South African Plants version . Accessed on 2025/04/14 |
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