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Scientific Name | Aspalathus varians Eckl. & Zeyh. |
Higher Classification | Dicotyledons |
Family | FABACEAE |
National Status |
Status and Criteria | Endangered B1ab(iii,v) |
Assessment Date | 2021/04/23 |
Assessor(s) | A.L. Schutte-Vlok, D. Raimondo & L. von Staden |
Justification | This species is assessed as Endangered under criterion B. Of the more than 20 subpopulations known from historical records, only between three and 12 severely fragmented subpopulations are estimated to remain, after more than 80% habitat loss has occurred, predominantly due to crop cultivation. The extent of occurrence (EOO) is between 2830-4154 km² while the area of occupancy (AOO) is 28-72 km². Habitat quality and the number of mature individuals continue to decline due to ongoing loss and degradation of remaining habitat fragments and the surviving populations are severely fragmented. |
Distribution |
Endemism | South African endemic |
Provincial distribution | Western Cape |
Range | This species' distribution extends from Piketberg to Tulbagh and Stellenbosch. |
Habitat and Ecology |
Major system | Terrestrial |
Major habitats | Swartland Shale Renosterveld, Breede Shale Renosterveld, Swartland Granite Renosterveld, Swartland Silcrete Renosterveld |
Description | Plants grow in renosterveld-fynbos transitions on low hills and flats. |
Threats |
| Habitat loss to crop cultivation is the most severe past threat to this species, resulting in subpopulations now being confined to small fragments of remaining natural vegetation. Habitat loss to crop cultivation continues around Tulbagh and Piketberg. Habitat loss to urban expansion has caused loss of subpopulations near Wellington and most recently at Malmesbury. Mismanagement of remaining renosterveld fragments is an ongoing threat, particularly inappropriate fire management. Aspalathus species require fire and most of the remaining Swartland fragments are not regularly burnt. |
Population |
A large number of historical records indicate that Aspalathus varians was once common on the western lowlands of the Western Cape, but it is now very rare, due to more than 80% habitat loss. It has been confirmed to remain on two fragments between Durbanville and Paarl, and could possibly still be found at between four and 10 other sites, where intact, but unsurveyed habitat remains. The population has been fragmented, and only small subpopulations, restricted to isolated remnants of suitable habitat, remains, and it continues to decline due to ongoing habitat loss and degradation.
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Population trend | Decreasing |
Assessment History |
Taxon assessed |
Status and Criteria |
Citation/Red List version | | Aspalathus varians Eckl. & Zeyh. | EN B1ab(iii,v) | Raimondo et al. (2009) | |
Bibliography |
Dahlgren, R. 1965. Revision of the genus Aspalathus. II. The species with ericoid and pinoid leaflets. 4. The Aspalathus ericifolia, parviflora, calcarata, desertorum, macrantha, pinea, rostrata, filicaulis, laricifolia and longifolia groups. Opera Botanica 10(1):1-231.
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.
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Citation |
| Schutte-Vlok, A.L., Raimondo, D. & von Staden, L. 2021. Aspalathus varians Eckl. & Zeyh. National Assessment: Red List of South African Plants version . Accessed on 2025/04/14 |
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