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Scientific Name | Aneilema longirrhizum Faden |
Higher Classification | Monocotyledons |
Family | COMMELINACEAE |
National Status |
Status and Criteria | Near Threatened B1ab(iii) |
Assessment Date | 2008/03/26 |
Assessor(s) | L. von Staden, P.J.D. Winter & D. Raimondo |
Justification | A range-restricted species (EOO estimated 320-1900 km²) that is still fairly common and is likely to occur at more than 10 locations. There is extensive, ongoing habitat degradation and habitat loss due to mining, expanding human settlements and overgrazing. These threats are likely to increase in future. Not protected in any reserves. |
Distribution |
Endemism | South African endemic |
Provincial distribution | Limpopo |
Range | Sekhukhuneland, northern Leolo Mountains and Olifants River Valley. |
Habitat and Ecology |
Major system | Terrestrial |
Major habitats | Savanna |
Description | Sekhukhune Plains Bushveld, on well-drained, gravel slopes and along dry riverbeds. |
Threats |
| This species is endemic to Sekhukhune Plains Bushveld (Mucina and Rutherford 2006), an extensively transformed vegetation type that has been classified as Vulnerable (Rouget et al. 2004). The vegetation within the distribution range of A. longirrhizum is 65% transformed (estimated using GIS) mainly due to human settlements, mining and severe overgrazing. This period of habitat transformation is however likely to have been ongoing for longer than three generations and is unlikely to be linearly related to population decline as this species is restricted to rocky areas that are not generally as severely affected by human settlements, agriculture and grazing that tend to be restricted to the deeper alluvial soils of the plains (P.J.D. Winter pers. comm.) The species appear to persist in even extreme overgrazed areas where no grasslands or woody vegetation remains (P.J.D. Winter pers. obs.). However, as the population expands in the region combined with renewed interest in mining, habitat loss and degradation is likely to be increasing in future, and is very likely to ultimately cause declines in the population of A. longirrhizum. |
Population |
Population trend | Decreasing |
Conservation |
| Not recorded from any formally protected areas. |
Assessment History |
Taxon assessed |
Status and Criteria |
Citation/Red List version | | Aneilema longirrhizum Faden | NT B1ab(iii) | Raimondo et al. (2009) | |
Bibliography |
Faden, R.B. 1978. A new species of Aneilema (Commelinaceae) from South Africa. Bothalia 12(3):565-566.
Faden, R.B. 1979. Aneilema longirrhizum. Flowering Plants of Africa 45(3-4):t. 1785.
Mucina, L. and Rutherford, M.C. (eds). 2006. The vegetation of South Africa, Lesotho and Swaziland. Strelitzia 19. South African National Biodiversity Institute, Pretoria.
Obermeyer, A.A. and Faden, R.B. 1985. Commelinaceae. In: O.A. Leistner (ed). Flora of Southern Africa 4 Part 2 Xyridaceae-Juncaceae:23-60. Botanical Research 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.
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Citation |
| von Staden, L., Winter, P.J.D. & Raimondo, D. 2008. Aneilema longirrhizum Faden. National Assessment: Red List of South African Plants version . Accessed on 2025/05/09 |
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