| Scientific Name | Cheilanthes contracta (Kunze) Mett. ex Kuhn | Higher Classification | Ferns | Family | PTERIDACEAE | Synonyms | Cheilanthes hirta Sw. var. contracta Kunze, Pteris contracta (Kunze) Mett. |
National Status | Status and Criteria | Least Concern | Assessment Date | 2017/10/11 | Assessor(s) | L. von Staden | Justification | Cheilanthes contracta is widespread and not in danger of extinction. It is listed as Least Concern. |
Distribution | Endemism | South African endemic | Provincial distribution | Eastern Cape, Mpumalanga, Northern Cape, Western Cape | Range | This species is endemic to South Africa, and is widespread across western South Africa, from the Kamiesberg in the Northern Cape to the Cape Peninsula, and eastwards to the Baviaanskloof. A disjunct subpopulation is known from the Mpumalanga escarpment. |
Habitat and Ecology | Major system | Terrestrial | Major habitats | Olifants Sandstone Fynbos, Boland Granite Fynbos, Cederberg Sandstone Fynbos, Swartruggens Quartzite Fynbos, Cape Winelands Shale Fynbos, Kouga Grassy Sandstone Fynbos, Hawequas Sandstone Fynbos, Kogelberg Sandstone Fynbos, Breede Shale Renosterveld, Montagu Shale Renosterveld, Breede Shale Fynbos, Graafwater Sandstone Fynbos, Baviaans Valley Thicket, Swartland Shale Renosterveld, Greyton Shale Fynbos, Western Coastal Shale Band Vegetation, Peninsula Granite Fynbos, Kamiesberg Granite Fynbos, Leipoldtville Sand Fynbos, Northern Inland Shale Band Vegetation, Swartland Alluvium Fynbos, Breede Alluvium Fynbos, Kouebokkeveld Alluvium Fynbos, Albany Alluvial Vegetation, Fynbos Riparian Vegetation, Vanstadens Forest Thicket, Sundays Valley Thicket, Sundays Mesic Thicket, Gamka Arid Thicket, Atlantis Sand Fynbos, Swartland Granite Renosterveld, Prince Albert Succulent Karoo, Doringrivier Quartzite Karoo, Kamiesberg Mountains Shrubland, Upper Karoo Hardeveld, Steenkampsberg Montane Grassland, Northern Escarpment Quartzite Sourveld, Northern Escarpment Dolomite Grassland, Karoo Escarpment Grassland, Humansdorp Shale Renosterveld, South Langeberg Sandstone Fynbos, Peninsula Shale Renosterveld, South Sonderend Sandstone Fynbos, Namaqualand Granite Renosterveld, Breede Alluvium Renosterveld, Loerie Conglomerate Fynbos, Peninsula Sandstone Fynbos, Winterhoek Sandstone Fynbos, North Kammanassie Sandstone Fynbos, South Swartberg Sandstone Fynbos, Agter-Sederberg Shrubland, North Swartberg Sandstone Fynbos, North Langeberg Sandstone Fynbos, Uniondale Shale Renosterveld | Description | It occurs in sheltered, shady places among sandstone rocks. |
Threats | | Cheilanthes contracta is threatened by invasive alien species. |
Population | There is no information available on the population of this species.
| Population trend | Stable |
Notes | | The subpopulation in Mpumalanga may warrant recognition as a separate species (Crouch et al. 2011). |
Assessment History |
Taxon assessed |
Status and Criteria |
Citation/Red List version | | Cheilanthes contracta (Kunze) Mett. ex Kuhn | Least Concern | Raimondo et al. (2009) | |
Bibliography | Anthony, N.C. 1984. A revision of the Southern African species of Cheilanthes Swartz and Pellaea Link (Pteridaceae). Contributions from the Bolus Herbarium 11:1-293.
Burrows, J.E. 1990. Southern African ferns and fern allies. Frandsen Publishers, Sandton.
Crouch, N.R., Klopper, R.R., Burrows, J.E. and Burrows, S.M. 2011. Ferns of southern Africa: A comprehensive guide. Struik Nature, Cape Town.
Goldblatt, P. and Manning, J.C. 2000. Cape Plants: A conspectus of the Cape Flora of South Africa. Strelitzia 9. National Botanical Institute, Cape Town.
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.
Schelpe, E.A.C.L.E. and Anthony, N.C. 1986. Pteridophyta. In: O.A. Leistner (ed). Flora of southern Africa:1-292. National Botanical 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.
|
Citation | | von Staden, L. 2017. Cheilanthes contracta (Kunze) Mett. ex Kuhn. National Assessment: Red List of South African Plants version . Accessed on 2025/05/31 |
 Comment on this assessment
|
Search for images of Cheilanthes contracta on iNaturalist
|
