Taxonomy
Scientific Name
Arctotis debensis R.J.Mckenzie
Higher Classification
Dicotyledons
Family
ASTERACEAE
National Status
Status and Criteria
Vulnerable A2c; B1ab(iii)+2ab(iii)
Assessment Date
2008/09/22
Assessor(s)
L. von Staden
Justification
EOO 186 km², eight known locations. The small range of this species falls entirely within a densely populated area. A 30% decline in the population of this locally common species is estimated based on a 32% decline of natural vegetation within the known range in the last 10 years. Habitat loss is ongoing due to expanding human settlements, crop cultivation and severe overgrazing.
Distribution
Endemism
South African endemic
Provincial distribution
Eastern Cape
Range
King William's Town to Pririe Forest.
Habitat and Ecology
Major system
Terrestrial
Major habitats
Bhisho Thornveld
Description
Grassland, the species occurs only on the mound-like edges of seasonally inundated hollows or 'kommetjies' that are 0.9-1.2 m deep and 1-9 m in diameter.
Threats
The range of Arctotis debensis falls entirely within a densely populated area of the Eastern Cape. According to national landcover data, the EOO of this species was already 66% transformed by 1996, mainly due to the expansion of human settlements, crop cultivation and severe overgrazing. Habitat loss is ongoing, and a further 32% of the remaining area of natural vegetation within the range of this species has been transformed in the last 10 years (estimate based on recent satellite images). As this species is reported to be locally common within the range (McKenzie et al. 2006), it is assumed that the relationship between habitat loss and population decline is linear, and at least a 30% population reduction is estimated based on habitat loss.
Population
Population trend
Decreasing
Assessment History
Taxon assessed
Status and Criteria
Citation/Red List version
Arctotis debensis R.J.MckenzieVU A2c; B1ab(iii)+2ab(iii)Raimondo et al. (2009)
Bibliography

McKenzie, R.J., Mitchell, S.D. and Barker, N.P. 2006. A new species of Arctotis (Compositae, Arctotideae) from kommetjie grassland in Eastern Cape Province, South Africa. Botanical Journal of the Linnean Society 151(4):581-588.


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.


Citation
von Staden, L. 2008. Arctotis debensis R.J.Mckenzie. National Assessment: Red List of South African Plants version . Accessed on 2025/04/18

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Distribution map


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