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Scientific Name | Aspalathus compacta R.Dahlgren |
Higher Classification | Dicotyledons |
Family | FABACEAE |
National Status |
Status and Criteria | Critically Endangered B1ab(i,ii,iii,iv,v)+2ab(i,ii,iii,iv,v); C2a(i,ii); D |
Assessment Date | 2010/11/02 |
Assessor(s) | N.A. Helme & L. von Staden |
Justification | EOO <10 km², AOO <1 km², this highly range-restricted species is severely threatened by ongoing expansion of fruit orchards. The population at the type locality is now extinct due to habitat loss to agriculture, and a recently discovered small population of about 20 plants is the only known population to remain. |
Distribution |
Endemism | South African endemic |
Provincial distribution | Western Cape |
Range | This species is endemic to the Skurweberg near Ceres. |
Habitat and Ecology |
Major system | Terrestrial |
Major habitats | Matjiesfontein Shale Renosterveld, Kouebokkeveld Shale Fynbos |
Description | Renosterveld-fynbos ecotones. |
Threats |
| This highly range-restricted species is severely threatened by ongoing, mostly illegal expansion of fruit orchards across its narrow range, it is estimated that ± 60% of this species' habitat has been lost in the past 50 years. The type locality was recently lost due to cultivation for fruit orchards. |
Population |
A single small subpopulation of about 20 plants discovered in 2010 is suspected to be the only one remaining.
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Population trend | Decreasing |
Assessment History |
Taxon assessed |
Status and Criteria |
Citation/Red List version | | Aspalathus compacta R.Dahlgren | VU D2 | Raimondo et al. (2009) | | Aspalathus compacta R.Dahlgren | Insufficiently Known | Hilton-Taylor (1996) | | Aspalathus compacta R.Dahlgren | Uncertain | Hall et al. (1980) | |
Bibliography |
Dahlgren, R. 1988. Crotalarieae (Aspalathus). In: O.A. Leistner (ed). Flora of southern Africa 16 Fabaceae, Part 3 Papilionoideae, Fascicle 6:1-430. National Botanical Institute, Pretoria.
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.
Hall, A.V., De Winter, M., De Winter, B. and Van Oosterhout, S.A.M. 1980. Threatened plants of southern Africa. South African National Scienctific Programmes Report 45. CSIR, Pretoria.
Hilton-Taylor, C. 1996. Red data list of southern African plants. Strelitzia 4. South African National Botanical Institute, Pretoria.
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 |
| Helme, N.A. & von Staden, L. 2010. Aspalathus compacta R.Dahlgren. National Assessment: Red List of South African Plants version . Accessed on 2025/06/03 |
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