Gorteria piloselloides

Taxonomy
Scientific Name
Gorteria piloselloides (Cass.) Stangb. & Anderb.
Higher Classification
Dicotyledons
Family
ASTERACEAE
Synonyms
Gorteria personata L. subsp. gracilis Roessler
National Status
Status and Criteria
Near Threatened B2b(iii)
Assessment Date
2023/08/16
Assessor(s)
H. Mtshali
Justification
Known from at least 25 locations and possibly occurring at a few more in unsurveyed parts of its range, this species has an extent of occurrence (EOO) of 23 194 km² and an area of occupancy (AOO) of 160 km². It is experiencing an ongoing decline in habitat due to crop cultivation as well as habitat degradation as a result of spreading alien invasive plants and inappropriate fire management. It is listed as Near Threatened under criterion B.
Distribution
Endemism
South African endemic
Provincial distribution
Eastern Cape, Western Cape
Range
This species mainly occurs in the Western Cape Province, from Paarl to Bitou and Overberg to Ceres, with two collections from Humansdorp in the Eastern Cape Province.
Habitat and Ecology
Major system
Terrestrial
Major habitats
Western Little Karoo, Robertson Karoo, Montagu Shale Renosterveld, Mossel Bay Shale Renosterveld, Eastern Ruens Shale Renosterveld, Central Ruens Shale Renosterveld, Western Ruens Shale Renosterveld, South Hex Sandstone Fynbos, North Outeniqua Sandstone Fynbos, South Langeberg Sandstone Fynbos, Breede Shale Fynbos, Breede Alluvium Fynbos
Description
It occurs in all-year round rainfall zones in succulent karoo and renosterveld fynbos.
Threats
There has been a 55% loss of habitat. Transformation has taken place in the past 70 years mostly in the 1950's and 1960's. In the Overberg region, the habitat has been extensively transformed for wheat cultivation, with only small fragments remaining. These continue to be lost and degraded due to overgrazing, spreading alien invasive plants, inappropriate fire management and development.
Population

Population size for this species is unknown, but many subpopulations are confined to small fragments and a decline is inferred due to habitat loss and degradation.


Population trend
Decreasing
Assessment History
Taxon assessed
Status and Criteria
Citation/Red List version
Gorteria personata L. subsp. gracilis RoesslerLeast Concern Raimondo et al. (2009)
Bibliography

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.


Stanberg, F. and Anderberg, A.A. 2014. Morphology and taxonomic reclassification of Gorteria (Asteraceae). Willdenowia 44:97-120.


Stångberg, F., Karis, P.O. and Anderberg, A. 2018. Intergeneric relationships in the Gorteriaclade of Arctotideae-Gorteriinae (Asteraceae), with description of a new genus, Roessleria. South African Journal of Botany 118:216-231.


Citation
Mtshali, H. 2023. Gorteria piloselloides (Cass.) Stangb. & Anderb. National Assessment: Red List of South African Plants version . Accessed on 2025/06/19

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Distribution map


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