Taxonomy
Scientific Name
Aspalathus microphylla DC.
Higher Classification
Dicotyledons
Family
FABACEAE
Synonyms
Aspalathus divaricata Thunb. b. microphylla (DC.) Harv., Aspalathus divergens Willd. ex E.Mey., Aspalathus divergens Willd. ex E.Mey. a. microphylla (DC.) E.Mey.
National Status
Status and Criteria
Least Concern
Assessment Date
2020/09/11
Assessor(s)
L. von Staden & A. Dayaram
Justification
Aspalathus microphylla is widespread, common and not declining. It is therefore assessed as Least Concern.
Distribution
Endemism
South African endemic
Provincial distribution
Western Cape
Range
This species is endemic to the Western Cape, South Africa, where it is known from Bokbaai to Swellendam and Agulhas Plain.
Habitat and Ecology
Major system
Terrestrial
Major habitats
Fynbos
Description
It grows in coastal and sandstone fynbos on lower slopes.
Threats
As a lowland species, urban development around Cape Town may pose a threat (Rebelo et al. 2011), however it is widespread and common so this threat is likely to be minimal.
Population

This species is widespread and common, and the population is stable.


Population trend
Stable
Assessment History
Taxon assessed
Status and Criteria
Citation/Red List version
Aspalathus microphylla DC.Least Concern Raimondo et al. (2009)
Bibliography

Dahlgren, R. 1968. Distribution and substrate in the South African genus Aspalathus L. (Leguminosae). Botaniska Notiser 121:505-534.


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.


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.


Rebelo, A., Holmes, P., Dorse, C. and Wood, J. 2011. Impacts of urbanization in a biodiversity hotspot: conservation challenges in Metropolitan Cape Town. South African Journal of Botany 77(1):20-35.


Citation
von Staden, L. & Dayaram, A. 2020. Aspalathus microphylla DC. National Assessment: Red List of South African Plants version . Accessed on 2025/04/14

Comment on this assessment Comment on this assessment
Distribution map


Search for images of Aspalathus microphylla on iNaturalist