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Scientific Name | Aspalathus obtusata Thunb. |
Higher Classification | Dicotyledons |
Family | FABACEAE |
Synonyms | Aspalathus spinosa L. subsp. obtusata (Thunb.) R.Dahlgren |
National Status |
Status and Criteria | Vulnerable B1ab(iii) |
Assessment Date | 2013/01/17 |
Assessor(s) | N.A. Helme & L. von Staden |
Justification | EOO 11 265 km², small, isolated, severely fragmented subpopulations continue to decline due to habitat loss and degradation as a result of expanding mining. |
Distribution |
Endemism | South African endemic |
Provincial distribution | Northern Cape, Western Cape |
Range | Namaqualand, north of Koingnaas to the Matsikamma Mountain and Lambert's Bay. |
Habitat and Ecology |
Major system | Terrestrial |
Major habitats | Doringrivier Quartzite Karoo, Namaqualand Strandveld, Namaqualand Heuweltjie Strandveld, Klawer Sandy Shrubland, Namaqualand Klipkoppe Shrubland, Knersvlakte Quartz Vygieveld, Namaqualand Sand Fynbos |
Description | Rocky quartz ridges. |
Threats |
| Aspalathus obtusata is declining on the coastal plain due to habitat loss and degradation as a result of expanding open-cast mining, as well as infrastructure development associated with mining (N.A. Helme pers. obs. 2012). It has lost habitat to agricultural expansion (mainly vineyards) around Klawer, and one subpopulation is likely to be lost to dam construction in the near future (N.A. Helme pers. comm. 2013). |
Population |
This habitat specialist is known from only a few, small, widely scattered subpopulations.
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Population trend | Decreasing |
Assessment History |
Taxon assessed |
Status and Criteria |
Citation/Red List version | | Aspalathus obtusata Thunb. | VU D2 | Raimondo et al. (2009) | | Aspalathus obtusata Thunb. | Insufficiently Known | Hilton-Taylor (1996) | |
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.
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.
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Citation |
| Helme, N.A. & von Staden, L. 2013. Aspalathus obtusata Thunb. National Assessment: Red List of South African Plants version . Accessed on 2025/04/14 |
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