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Scientific Name | Gazania splendidissima Mucina, Magee & Boatwr. |
Higher Classification | Dicotyledons |
Family | ASTERACEAE |
National Status |
Status and Criteria | Near Threatened B1ab(ii,iii,v)+2ab(ii,iii,v) |
Assessment Date | 2023/09/08 |
Assessor(s) | L. von Staden |
Justification | Gazania splendidissima has a very restricted range (EOO 335 km²) and is confined to a narrow coastal habitat, but is locally quite abundant. It is currently known from at least 10 locations, but is suspected to occur at at least five more as some parts of the habitat has not yet been explored. It continues to decline due to ongoing habitat loss to mining, and to a lesser degree, coastal development. |
Distribution |
Endemism | South African endemic |
Provincial distribution | Northern Cape |
Range | Port Nolloth to Hondeklipbaai. |
Habitat and Ecology |
Major system | Terrestrial |
Major habitats | Namaqualand Coastal Duneveld, Richtersveld Coastal Duneveld |
Description | Predominantly coastal dunes, but has also been recorded inland on coastal granite. |
Threats |
| The coastal areas between Port Nolloth and Hondeklipbaai are mined for diamonds and other minerals, and much of the coastal vegetation has been transformed and degraded as a result of open-cast mining as well as prospecting activities. There has been some recent expansion of mining particularly around Kleinsee, but overall it is estimated that no more than 20% of G. splendidissima's habitat is currently impacted by mining. Other threats include coastal development - some habitat has been lost to recent developments south of Port Nolloth, but overall coastal development is not causing as significant declines in coastal vegetation as further south along the West Coast. Coastal dunes are also being degraded by recreational 4x4 driving (Magee et al. 2011), but this is likely to have limited impact on the population. |
Population |
Gazania splendidissima is locally abundant and occur in large subpopulations in suitable coastal habitat. Seed set and recruitment is healthy and young plants and seedlings are abundant (Magee et al. 2011).
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Population trend | Decreasing |
Assessment History |
Taxon assessed |
Status and Criteria |
Citation/Red List version | | Gazania splendidissima Mucina, Magee & Boatwr. | NT B1ab(ii,iii,v)+2ab(ii,iii,v) | 2012.1 | |
Bibliography |
Magee, A.R., Boatwright, J.S. and Mucina, L. 2011. Gazania lanata and G. splendidissima: Two new species of Asteraceae (tribe Arctotideae) from the Greater Capensis, with an updated key for the genus. South African Journal of Botany 77(1):86-93.
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Citation |
| von Staden, L. 2023. Gazania splendidissima Mucina, Magee & Boatwr. National Assessment: Red List of South African Plants version . Accessed on 2025/04/14 |
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