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Scientific Name | Muraltia aspalathoides Schltr. |
Higher Classification | Dicotyledons |
Family | POLYGALACEAE |
National Status |
Status and Criteria | Data Deficient - Insufficient Information |
Assessment Date | 2016/10/03 |
Assessor(s) | L. von Staden |
Justification | An apparently rare and very poorly known species last recorded in 1949. It is possibly overlooked, but it is likely to be threatened by competition from alien invasive plants. Field surveys to relocate this species are needed to enable an assessment of its risk of extinction. |
Distribution |
Endemism | South African endemic |
Provincial distribution | Western Cape |
Range | Houw Hoek to the Caledon Swartberg. |
Habitat and Ecology |
Major system | Terrestrial |
Major habitats | Fynbos |
Description | Sandstone slopes. |
Threats |
| This species has lost habitat to timber plantations at both known locations. Plantations are no longer expanding, but alien invasive species are spreading across fynbos surrounding the plantations. The Caledon Swartberg is densely infested with unmanaged alien invasive plants that are outcompeting native species. |
Population |
Muraltia aspalathoides is known from only three collections, and was last recorded in 1949. It is not known whether it is overlooked, or whether the population has declined to extinction. Field surveys are required to relocate subpopulations - intact habitat remains on the mountains around Houw Hoek, and it could still be rediscovered.
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Population trend | Unknown |
Assessment History |
Taxon assessed |
Status and Criteria |
Citation/Red List version | | Muraltia aspalathoides Schltr. | DDD | 2017.1 | | Muraltia aspalathoides Schltr. | Threatened | Raimondo et al. (2009) | |
Bibliography |
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.
Levyns, M.R. 1954. The genus Muraltia. Journal of South African Botany Supplement 2:1-247.
Manning, J.C. and Goldblatt, P. 2012. Plants of the Greater Cape Floristic Region 1: The Core Cape Flora. Strelitzia 29. South African National Biodiversity 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. 2016. Muraltia aspalathoides Schltr. National Assessment: Red List of South African Plants version . Accessed on 2025/04/13 |
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