Saffraan

Taxonomy

Scientific Name

Lasiosiphon deserticola (Gilg) C.H.Wright

Higher Classification

Dicotyledons

Family

THYMELAEACEAE

Synonyms

Gnidia deserticola Gilg

Common Names

Hotnotsverfbossie (a), Saffraan (a), Saffraanbos (a), Verfbossie (a)

National Status

Status and Criteria

Least Concern

Assessment Date

2015/11/05

Assessor(s)

L. von Staden

Justification

A widespread and common species that is not in danger of extinction.

Distribution

Endemism

South African endemic

Provincial distribution

Eastern Cape, Northern Cape, Western Cape

Range

Bokkeveld Escarpment to Worcester, and eastwards through the Little Karoo and southern Great Karoo to Willowmore and Graaff-Reinet.

Habitat and Ecology

Major system

Terrestrial

Major habitats

Fynbos, Nama Karoo, Succulent Karoo

Description

Dry flats and lower slopes.

Threats

This species is palatable and is browsed by livestock and game (Vlok and Schutte-Vlok 2010). Much of its range in the Great and Little Karoo is severely overgrazed, which may impact this species. It is a long-lived shrub, which can recover when grazing pressure is decreased.

Population

Population trend

Stable

Assessment History

Taxon assessed	Status and Criteria	Citation/Red List version
Lasiosiphon deserticola (Gilg) C.H.Wright	Least Concern	2015.1
Gnidia deserticola 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.

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.

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.

Snijman, D.A. 2013. Plants of the Greater Cape Floristic Region 2: The extra Cape flora. Strelitzia 30. South African National Biodiversity Institute, Pretoria.

Vlok, J. and Schutte-Vlok, A.L. 2010. Plants of the Klein Karoo. Umdaus Press, Hatfield.

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.

Citation

von Staden, L. 2015. Lasiosiphon deserticola (Gilg) C.H.Wright. National Assessment: Red List of South African Plants version . Accessed on 2025/04/14

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