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Scientific Name | Senecio umgeniensis Thell. |
Higher Classification | Dicotyledons |
Family | ASTERACEAE |
Synonyms | Senecio basutensis Thell. 1921 (in part), Senecio pullus Klatt 1896 |
National Status |
Status and Criteria | Least Concern |
Assessment Date | 2016/10/06 |
Assessor(s) | L. von Staden |
Justification | A widespread (EOO 29 500 km²), and still relatively common species that is declining due to ongoing habitat loss and degradation over most of its range. It however does not yet meet any criteria for a category of threat. |
Distribution |
Endemism | South African endemic |
Provincial distribution | KwaZulu-Natal |
Range | KwaZulu-Natal Drakensberg foothills and Midlands. |
Habitat and Ecology |
Major system | Terrestrial |
Major habitats | Grassland |
Description | Open grassland, 150-1050 m. |
Threats |
| This species' habitat in the KwaZulu-Natal Midlands has been extensively transformed and fragmented by sugarcane cultivation, timber plantations, and urban expansion, and it continues to decline due to ongoing habitat loss and degradation. Many small remaining grassland fragments continue to be degraded due to spreading, unmanaged alien invasive plants, and inappropriate fire management. In contrast, in the Drakensberg large sections of natural grasslands remain intact, and most of it is well-protected. |
Population |
Subpopulations in the KwaZulu-Natal Midlands are severely fragmented and continue to decline due to ongoing habitat loss and degradation, but as threats are not as severe in the Drakensberg, the species is not suspected to be declining in these areas. It is known from at least 20 subpopulations scattered over a wide area, and it is possibly overlooked and more common than records suggest.
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Population trend | Decreasing |
Assessment History |
Taxon assessed |
Status and Criteria |
Citation/Red List version | | Senecio umgeniensis Thell. | LC | 2017.1 | | Senecio umgeniensis Thell. | Threatened | Raimondo et al. (2009) | |
Bibliography |
Hilliard, O.M. 1977. Compositae in Natal. University of Natal Press, Pietermaritzburg.
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 |
| von Staden, L. 2016. Senecio umgeniensis Thell. National Assessment: Red List of South African Plants version . Accessed on 2025/04/13 |
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