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Scientific Name | Metalasia plicata P.O.Karis |
Higher Classification | Dicotyledons |
Family | ASTERACEAE |
National Status |
Status and Criteria | Endangered B2ab(i,ii,iii,iv,v) |
Assessment Date | 2012/12/11 |
Assessor(s) | N.A. Helme & L. von Staden |
Justification | EOO 5702 km², AOO <300 km², six small, isolated, severely fragmented subpopulations remain after more than 87% habitat loss to expanding crop cultivation. The population continues to decline due to ongoing habitat loss and degradation, particularly due to overgrazing and competition from unmanaged alien invasive plants. |
Distribution |
Endemism | South African endemic |
Provincial distribution | Western Cape |
Range | Houwhoek to Bredasdorp and Heidelberg. |
Habitat and Ecology |
Major system | Terrestrial |
Major habitats | Eastern Ruens Shale Renosterveld, Western Ruens Shale Renosterveld, Ruens Silcrete Renosterveld, Overberg Sandstone Fynbos, Greyton Shale Fynbos, Elgin Shale Fynbos, Elim Ferricrete Fynbos, Agulhas Sand Fynbos |
Description | Sandstone-clay ecotones, occurring on the transitions between fynbos and renosterveld. |
Threats |
| Less than 13% of this species' habitat remains intact after extensive loss to expanding crop cultivation in the Overberg region. All known remaining locations are small fragments of natural vegetation surrounded by crop fields, many of which are severely overgrazed due to overstocking of these fragments. On the Caledon Swartberg, this species' habitat has been degraded through the establishment of exotic timber plantations, and a few remaining plants are threatened by competition from alien invasive plants. Other locations are threatened by dam construction, proposed developments and further agricultural expansion. |
Population |
Six subpopulations are known, and all occur on isolated fragments of natural vegetation. Four are very small, consisting of fewer than 50 mature individuals, but at two sites this species has been recorded as locally common to dominant.
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Population trend | Decreasing |
Assessment History |
Taxon assessed |
Status and Criteria |
Citation/Red List version | | Metalasia plicata P.O.Karis | EN B1ab(ii,iii,v) | Raimondo et al. (2009) | | Metalasia plicata P.O.Karis | Insufficiently Known | 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. Strelitzia 4. South African National Botanical Institute, Pretoria.
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. & von Staden, L. 2012. Metalasia plicata P.O.Karis. National Assessment: Red List of South African Plants version . Accessed on 2025/04/13 |
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