| Scientific Name | Lasiosiphon polycephalus (E.Mey. ex Meisn.) H.Pearson | Higher Classification | Dicotyledons | Family | THYMELAEACEAE | Synonyms | Arthrosolen polycephalus C.A.Mey., Arthrosolen polycephalus C.A.Mey. var. incanus Kuntze, Arthrosolen polycephalus C.A.Mey. var. rubens Kuntze, Arthrosolen polycephalus C.A.Mey. var. sulfureus Kuntze, Gnidia polycephala (C.A.Mey.) Gilg, Gnidia polyclada Gilg, Passerina polycephala E. Mey. ex Meisn. | Common Names | Besembossie (a), Janewariebos (a), Jannewariebos (a), Januariebos (a), Perdebossie (a), Waaibossie (a) |
National Status | Status and Criteria | Least Concern | Assessment Date | 2015/11/10 | Assessor(s) | L. von Staden | Justification | Widespread, common and not in danger of extinction. |
Distribution | Endemism | Not endemic to South Africa | Provincial distribution | Eastern Cape, Free State, Northern Cape, North West, Western Cape | Range | Widespread across the central arid areas of South Africa, extending to Namibia and Botswana. |
Habitat and Ecology | Major system | Terrestrial | Major habitats | Besemkaree Koppies Shrubland, Upper Karoo Hardeveld, Western Upper Karoo, Eastern Lower Karoo, Bushmanland Basin Shrubland, Bushmanland Arid Grassland, Lower Gariep Broken Veld, Tarkastad Montane Shrubland, Upper Gariep Alluvial Vegetation, Bloemfontein Dry Grassland, Mafikeng Bushveld, Xhariep Karroid Grassland, Vaal-Vet Sandy Grassland, Karoo Escarpment Grassland, Southern Karoo Riviere, Bushmanland Vloere, Southern Kalahari Mekgacha, Highveld Alluvial Vegetation, Western Free State Clay Grassland, Stella Bushveld, Gordonia Kameeldoring Bushveld, Gordonia Duneveld, Kuruman Thornveld, Kuruman Vaalbosveld, Ghaap Plateau Vaalbosveld, Schmidtsdrif Thornveld, Vaalbos Rocky Shrubland, Northern Upper Karoo, Schweizer-Reneke Bushveld, Eastern Upper Karoo, Gordonia Plains Shrubland, Koranna-Langeberg Mountain Bushveld, Postmasburg Thornveld, Olifantshoek Plains Thornveld, Kathu Bushveld, Molopo Bushveld, Kuruman Mountain Bushveld, Auob Duneveld, Kimberley Thornveld | Description | Sandy flats, rocky slopes, sometimes in seasonally inundated pans, 600-1160 m. |
Population | A very common species, which often proliferates in disturbed and overgrazed areas.
| Population trend | Stable |
Assessment History |
Taxon assessed |
Status and Criteria |
Citation/Red List version | | Lasiosiphon polycephalus (E.Mey. ex Meisn.) H.Pearson | Least Concern | 2015.1 | | Gnidia polycephala (C.A.Mey.) Gilg | Least Concern | Raimondo et al. (2009) | |
Bibliography | Beaumont, A.J., Edwards, T.J., Manning, J., Maurin, O., Rautenbach, M., Motsi, M.C., Fay, M.F., Chase, M.W. and Van Der Bank, M. 2009. Gnidia (Thymelaeaceae) is not monophyletic: taxonomic implications for Thymelaeoideae and a partial new generic taxonomy for Gnidia. Botanical Journal of the Linnean Society 160(4):402-417.
Burtt Davy, J. 1926. A manual of the flowering plants and ferns of the Transvaal with Swaziland, South Africa. Part I. Pteridophyta to Bombacaceae. Longmans, Green and Co. Ltd., London.
Manning, J.C. and Boatwright, J.S. 2013. THYMELEACEAE: Lasiosiphon rigidus, a new species from the Tankwa Karoo and two new combinations in the genus for South Africa. Bothalia 43(1):84-88.
Pearson, H.H.W. 1910. Order CXVIII. Thymelaeaceae. In: W.T. Thiselton-Dyer (ed), Flora of Tropical Africa (Vol. VI Sect. I Part II, pp. 212-255), Lovell Reeve & Co. Limited, London.
Peterson, B. 1978. Thymeleaceae. In: R.M. Polhill (ed). Flora of Tropical East Africa:1-37. Crown Agents for Oversea Governments and Administrators, London.
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.
Retief, E. and Herman, P.P.J. 1997. Plants of the northern provinces of South Africa: keys and diagnostic characters. Strelitzia 6. National Botanical Institute, Pretoria.
Shearing, D. 1994. Karoo. South African Wild Flower Guide 6. Botanical Society of South Africa, Kirstenbosch.
Wright, C.H. 1925. Thymelaeaceae. In: W.T. Thiselton-Dyer (ed). Flora Capensis V Section II (Thymeleaceae-Ceratophylleae):1-81. L. Reeve & Co., Ltd., Ashford.
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Citation | | von Staden, L. 2015. Lasiosiphon polycephalus (E.Mey. ex Meisn.) H.Pearson. National Assessment: Red List of South African Plants version . Accessed on 2025/04/14 |
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