Silverlace Capegorse

Taxonomy
Scientific Name
Aspalathus pedunculata Houtt.
Higher Classification
Dicotyledons
Family
FABACEAE
Synonyms
Aspalathus argyraea DC.
Common Names
Silverlace Capegorse (e)
National Status
Status and Criteria
Least Concern
Assessment Date
2021/04/11
Assessor(s)
D. Raimondo
Justification
This species has a restricted range with an extent of occurrence (EOO) of 2347 km², there are however more than sixty subpopulations known and it is abundant where it occurs. The population is increasing due to its ability to grow in disturbed habitats. It is therefore listed as Least Concern.
Distribution
Endemism
South African endemic
Provincial distribution
Western Cape
Range
This species is endemic to the Southern Cape region of South Africa. It occurs in the eastern section of the Little Karoo from the Rooiberg Mountain to the Kamannassie Mountains and is particularly common between Montagu Pass and Robinson Pass on the Northern slopes of the Outeniqua Mountains.
Habitat and Ecology
Major system
Terrestrial
Major habitats
Eastern Little Karoo, Montagu Shale Renosterveld, Langkloof Shale Renosterveld, Uniondale Shale Renosterveld, South Rooiberg Sandstone Fynbos, North Rooiberg Sandstone Fynbos, North Outeniqua Sandstone Fynbos, Oudshoorn Karroid Thicket
Description
It grows in gravely clay soils, renosterveld-fynbos transitions on northern slopes.
Threats
This species is able to withstand disturbance and occurs abundantly in areas that have been previously ploughed.
Population

There has been extensive monitoring of this species by the Outramps Citizen Science group of the Custodians of Rare and Endangered Wildflowers (CREW) programme. This monitoring data is available on iNaturalist and indicates that there are over 60 subpopulations many of which are large. This species' population is increasing as it is a pioneer that thrives in disturbed habitats.


Population trend
Increasing
Assessment History
Taxon assessed
Status and Criteria
Citation/Red List version
Aspalathus pedunculata Houtt.Least Concern Raimondo et al. (2009)
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.


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.


Vlok, J. and Schutte-Vlok, A.L. 2010. Plants of the Klein Karoo. Umdaus Press, Hatfield.


Citation
Raimondo, D. 2021. Aspalathus pedunculata Houtt. National Assessment: Red List of South African Plants version . Accessed on 2025/04/19

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Distribution map


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