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Scientific Name | Cliffortia arborea Marloth |
Higher Classification | Dicotyledons |
Family | ROSACEAE |
Common Names | Star Cliffortia (e), Star Tree (e), Sterboom (a), Tree Rice-bush (e) |
National Status |
Status and Criteria | Vulnerable A2cd; C2a(i) |
Assessment Date | 2019/11/10 |
Assessor(s) | C.M. Whitehouse & D. Raimondo |
Justification | Over 30% of this species' population is suspected to have declined over the past 90 years due to harvesting of wood and as a result of being too frequently burnt. This is a slow growing species with a generation length in excess of 30 years. Furthermore the overall population number is fewer than 10 000 individuals. This species therefore qualifies as Vulnerable under criteria A2cd; C2a(i). |
Distribution |
Endemism | South African endemic |
Provincial distribution | Northern Cape, Western Cape |
Range | This species is endemic to South Africa, and is found from Hantamsberg Mountain to Nuweveld Mountains. |
Habitat and Ecology |
Major system | Terrestrial |
Major habitats | Tanqua Escarpment Shrubland, Hantam Karoo, Upper Karoo Hardeveld, Karoo Escarpment Grassland, Roggeveld Shale Renosterveld, Hantam Plateau Dolerite Renosterveld, Nieuwoudtville-Roggeveld Dolerite Renosterveld |
Description | It occupies cliffs and ledges of dolerite, sandstone, and shale escarpment. |
Threats |
| Plants of Cliffortia arborea are cut down for firewood, and while able to resprout, this species is unable to regenerate from too severe cutting. It is suspected to be a slow growing, slow maturing species, and is therefore also threatened by too frequent fire. Death of plants have been observed at a number of the locations. |
Population |
This species occurs as scattered subpopulations in suitable habitat. Only one population is listed as locally common while others are very small numbering often fewer than 10 plants. The overall population is suspected to be fewer than 10 000 individuals.
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Population trend | Decreasing |
Assessment History |
Taxon assessed |
Status and Criteria |
Citation/Red List version | | Cliffortia arborea Marloth | VU B1ab(iii,v) | Raimondo et al. (2009) | | Cliffortia arborea Marloth | Lower Risk - Near Threatened | Victor (2002) | | Cliffortia arborea Marloth | Rare | Hilton-Taylor (1996) | |
Bibliography |
Hilton-Taylor, C. 1996. Red data list of southern African plants. Strelitzia 4. South African National Botanical Institute, Pretoria.
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.
Snijman, D.A. 2013. Plants of the Greater Cape Floristic Region 2: The extra Cape flora. Strelitzia 30. South African National Biodiversity Institute, Pretoria.
Victor, J.E. 2002. South Africa. In: J.S. Golding (ed), Southern African plant Red Data Lists. Southern African Botanical Diversity Network Report 14 (pp. 93-120), SABONET, Pretoria.
Whitehouse, C.M. 2006. Cliffortia Interactive Key. Bolus Herbarium, University of Cape Town, Cape Town.
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Citation |
| Whitehouse, C.M. & Raimondo, D. 2019. Cliffortia arborea Marloth. National Assessment: Red List of South African Plants version . Accessed on 2025/04/14 |
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