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Scientific Name | Metalasia octoflora DC. |
Higher Classification | Dicotyledons |
Family | ASTERACEAE |
Synonyms | Metalasia xanthocephala T.M.Salter |
Common Names | Swartland Blombos (a) |
National Status |
Status and Criteria | Vulnerable B1ab(ii,iii,v)+2ab(ii,iii,v) |
Assessment Date | 2010/09/10 |
Assessor(s) | N.A. Helme, D. Raimondo & L. von Staden |
Justification | A Swartland endemic (EOO 1 583-1 828 km²), plants at between eight and ten locations, all small fragments, continue to decline, mainly due to dense alien acacia infestations. |
Distribution |
Endemism | South African endemic |
Provincial distribution | Western Cape |
Range | Malmesbury to Durbanville, Paarl and Wolseley. |
Habitat and Ecology |
Major system | Terrestrial |
Major habitats | Swartland Shale Renosterveld, Breede Shale Renosterveld, Swartland Granite Renosterveld, Swartland Silcrete Renosterveld, Swartland Alluvium Renosterveld, Cape Flats Sand Fynbos, Atlantis Sand Fynbos, Swartland Alluvium Fynbos, Breede Alluvium Fynbos |
Description | Renosterveld, clay flats. |
Threats |
| Agriculture and urban expansion has caused more than 90% habitat loss within this species' range. This formerly abundant species now remains on a number of small fragments where plants continue to decline to dense alien plant invasions, the current most severe threat. Other threats include ongoing habitat loss to urban expansion, severe overgrazing and poor fire management. |
Population |
A formerly very common species now restricted to fragments where it can still be very common and even dominant. A number of previously unknown subpopulations were recently discovered during field surveys.
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Population trend | Decreasing |
Assessment History |
Taxon assessed |
Status and Criteria |
Citation/Red List version | | Metalasia octoflora DC. | EN B1ab(ii,iii,v) | Raimondo et al. (2009) | | Metalasia octoflora DC. | Vulnerable | Hilton-Taylor (1996) | |
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.
Hilton-Taylor, C. 1996. Red Data List of southern African plants. 1. Corrections and additions. Bothalia 26(2):177-182.
Karis, P.O. 1989. Systematics of the genus Metalasia (Asteraceae - Gnaphalieae). Opera Botanica 99:1-150.
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. 2010. Metalasia octoflora DC. National Assessment: Red List of South African Plants version . Accessed on 2025/04/13 |
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