Taxonomy
Scientific Name
Heliophila cinerea Marais
Higher Classification
Dicotyledons
Family
BRASSICACEAE
Synonyms
Heliophila incana Aiton
National Status
Status and Criteria
Vulnerable D1+2
Assessment Date
2013/01/18
Assessor(s)
N.A. Helme & L. von Staden
Justification
A rare, and localized (EOO 31 km²) habitat specialist (AOO estimated <5 km²). The population is estimated to number fewer than 1000 mature individuals and is potentially threatened by competition from invasive grasses, and habitat loss to infrastructure development and erosion.
Distribution
Endemism
South African endemic
Provincial distribution
Western Cape
Range
Cape Peninsula.
Habitat and Ecology
Major system
Terrestrial
Major habitats
Cape Flats Dune Strandveld, Peninsula Sandstone Fynbos, Hangklip Sand Fynbos
Description
Sandy coastal slopes.
Threats
At one location with the Cape Point section of Table Mountain National Park, effluent outflow from public toilets is aiding the spread of invasive grasses, which is already outcompeting the native vegetation. It is currently affecting less than 10% of the Heliophila cinerea population, but if allowed to spread, is likely to cause the loss of the subpopulation at this site. Other subpopulations within the Cape Point protected area are not currently threatened, however, one subpopulation outside the borders of the park has lost habitat to a municipal landfill, and is potentially threatened by further habitat degradation as a result of infrastructure development as well as erosion (N.A. Helme pers. obs.).
Population

Subpopulations are small, consisting of between 100 and 200 plants. It is estimated that the total population size consists of fewer than 1000 mature individuals. It is not currently declining, but potential threats could cause losses in future.


Population trend
Stable
Assessment History
Taxon assessed
Status and Criteria
Citation/Red List version
Heliophila cinerea MaraisRare 2012.1
Heliophila cinerea MaraisRare Raimondo et al. (2009)
Heliophila cinerea MaraisRare Hilton-Taylor (1996)
Heliophila cinerea MaraisRare 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.


Helme, N.A. and Trinder-Smith, T.H. 2006. The endemic flora of the Cape Peninsula, South Africa. South African Journal of Botany 72(2):205-210.


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


Marais, W. 1970. Cruciferae. In: L.E. Codd, B. De Winter, D.J.B. Killick and H.B. Rycroft (eds). Flora of southern Africa 13:1-118. Botanical Research 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.


Citation
Helme, N.A. & von Staden, L. 2013. Heliophila cinerea Marais. National Assessment: Red List of South African Plants version . Accessed on 2025/04/13

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Distribution map

© N.A. Helme


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