Taxonomy
Scientific Name
Marasmodes reflexa S.Ortiz
Higher Classification
Dicotyledons
Family
ASTERACEAE
National Status
Status and Criteria
Critically Endangered (Possibly Extinct)
Assessment Date
2012/05/08
Assessor(s)
D. Raimondo & L. von Staden
Justification
This species was last recorded in 1946, and since then, most of its renosterveld habitat has been converted to crop fields. Surveys to relocate surviving subpopulations are ongoing, but have thus far been unsuccessful. This species is possibly extinct.
Distribution
Endemism
South African endemic
Provincial distribution
Western Cape
Range
Napier.
Habitat and Ecology
Major system
Terrestrial
Major habitats
Central Ruens Shale Renosterveld, Ruens Silcrete Renosterveld, Elim Ferricrete Fynbos
Description
Shale renosterveld.
Threats
Land transformation for crop cultivation and to a lesser extent, urban expansion, has caused extensive loss of this species' renosterveld habitat, and currently only small fragments remain. Remaining natural vegetation is being continually degraded due to overgrazing and invasive alien plant infestations.
Population

Marasmodes reflexa was first collected in 1946, from an unspecified locality in renosterveld near Napier. It has not been recorded since. In 2011 and 2016, volunteers of the Custodians of Rare and Endangered Wildflowers (CREW) programme surveyed remaining renosterveld fragments for this species, but failed to locate any surviving subpopulations. It is however possible that it may be overlooked, as Marasmodes species are cryptic and localized to specialised, often transitional habitats. The species is possibly extinct, as very little renosterveld remains intact in the area where it was last recorded, but more surveys are needed to confirm this.


Population trend
Unknown
Assessment History
Taxon assessed
Status and Criteria
Citation/Red List version
Marasmodes reflexa S.OrtizCritically Endangered (Possibly Extinct) 2012.1
Bibliography

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.


Ortiz, S. 2009. Eight new species of Marasmodes (Asteraceae, Anthemideae) from South Africa. Botanical Journal of the Linnean Society 159:330-342.


Citation
Raimondo, D. & von Staden, L. 2012. Marasmodes reflexa S.Ortiz. National Assessment: Red List of South African Plants version . Accessed on 2025/05/31

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Distribution map


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