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Scientific Name | Heliophila cornellsbergia B.J.Pienaar & Nicholas |
Higher Classification | Dicotyledons |
Family | BRASSICACEAE |
National Status |
Status and Criteria | Vulnerable D2 |
Assessment Date | 2015/05/19 |
Assessor(s) | D. Raimondo & L. von Staden |
Justification | A localized habitat specialist, known from two locations and potentially threatened by overgrazing. |
Distribution |
Endemism | South African endemic |
Provincial distribution | Northern Cape |
Range | Richtersveld, Vandersterrberg and Stinkfontein mountains. |
Habitat and Ecology |
Major system | Terrestrial |
Major habitats | Central Richtersveld Mountain Shrubland |
Description | Damp, shaded places at the base of rocky, south-facing slopes. |
Threats |
| This species is localized to the central Richtersveld mountains, where grazing pressure is currently low. However, as rangelands on the plains and closer to settlements are becoming increasingly degraded, herders are starting to move their livestock into the mountains in search of grazing. A livestock outpost has already been established in the valley where a second subpopulation of this species was recently discovered. |
Population |
A localized habitat specialist, but can be locally abundant. This annual species is easily overlooked, and may only emerge in years of good rainfall. It is currently known from two moist valleys about 9 km apart.
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Population trend | Stable |
Assessment History |
Taxon assessed |
Status and Criteria |
Citation/Red List version | | Heliophila cornellsbergia B.J.Pienaar & Nicholas | VU D2 | 2015.1 | | Heliophila cornellsbergia B.J.Pienaar & Nicholas | Rare | Raimondo et al. (2009) | | Heliophila cornellsbergia B.J.Pienaar & Nicholas | Rare | Hilton-Taylor (1996) | |
Bibliography |
Hilton-Taylor, C. 1996. Red data list of southern African plants. Strelitzia 4. South African National Botanical Institute, Pretoria.
Pienaar, B.J. and Nicholas, A. 1988. BRASSICACEAE: Heliophila cornellsbergia, a new species from the Richtersveld. Bothalia 18(2):183-188.
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.
Snijman, D.A. 2013. Plants of the Greater Cape Floristic Region 2: The extra Cape flora. Strelitzia 30. South African National Biodiversity Institute, Pretoria.
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Citation |
| Raimondo, D. & von Staden, L. 2015. Heliophila cornellsbergia B.J.Pienaar & Nicholas. National Assessment: Red List of South African Plants version . Accessed on 2025/04/13 |
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