Taxonomy
Scientific Name
Aspalathus obliqua R.Dahlgren
Higher Classification
Dicotyledons
Family
FABACEAE
Synonyms
Aspalathus lactea Thunb. b. meyeri Harv.
National Status
Status and Criteria
Vulnerable D2
Assessment Date
2010/11/26
Assessor(s)
D. Raimondo & N.A. Helme
Justification
A range-restricted species, EOO <10 km², currently confirmed from only one location but possibly still extant at the type locality where it was last collected in 1830. This species is potentially threatened by lack of fire associated with rooibos tea farming practices and by grazing by livestock.
Distribution
Endemism
South African endemic
Provincial distribution
Northern Cape
Range
Bokkeveld Escarpment.
Habitat and Ecology
Major system
Terrestrial
Major habitats
Bokkeveld Sandstone Fynbos
Description
Habitat deep sandy flats in Bokkeveld Sandstone Fynbos.
Threats
Potentially threatened by poor fire management (this species requires fire to regenerate), much of its fynbos habitat has been transformed for rooibos tea cultivation and burning of remaining natural vegetation is avoided by rooibos tea farmers. Grazing by livestock is likely to have been a past threat to this species and remains a potential threat at the type locality on the farm Grasberg.
Population
Population trend
Stable
Assessment History
Taxon assessed
Status and Criteria
Citation/Red List version
Aspalathus obliqua R.DahlgrenCritically Endangered (Possibly Extinct) Raimondo et al. (2009)
Aspalathus obliqua R.DahlgrenIndeterminate Hilton-Taylor (1996)
Aspalathus obliqua R.DahlgrenUncertain 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.


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.


Citation
Raimondo, D. & Helme, N.A. 2010. Aspalathus obliqua R.Dahlgren. National Assessment: Red List of South African Plants version . Accessed on 2025/06/03

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Distribution map

© N.A. Helme

© N.A. Helme


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