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Scientific Name | Aspalathus calcarata Harv. |
Higher Classification | Dicotyledons |
Family | FABACEAE |
Synonyms | Achyronia calcarata (Harv.) Kuntze |
National Status |
Status and Criteria | Vulnerable B1ab(iii) |
Assessment Date | 2011/06/28 |
Assessor(s) | A.L. Schutte-Vlok & L. von Staden |
Justification | EOO 4 559 km², less than 10 locations are estimated to remain on small fragments after most of this species' habitat has been transformed for crop cultivation. It continues to decline due to ongoing habitat loss to agriculture and dense alien plant infestations. |
Distribution |
Endemism | South African endemic |
Provincial distribution | Western Cape |
Range | Southern slopes of the Riviersonderend and Langeberg Mountains between Caledon and Riversdale and low coastal hills between Pearly Beach and Struisbaai. |
Habitat and Ecology |
Major system | Terrestrial |
Major habitats | Montagu Shale Fynbos, Greyton Shale Fynbos, Elim Ferricrete Fynbos, Swellendam Silcrete Fynbos |
Description | Clay soils, in fynbos-renosterveld transitions on lower slopes and flats. Two localities are from transitional limestone-sandstone fynbos. |
Threats |
| This species is threatened by habitat loss to crop cultivation and alien plant invasion. Dahlgren, in his revision of Aspalathus (Dahlgren 1988) remarked that most subpopulations of this species remains in small fragments. Dense alien plant infestations are causing severe habitat degradation in coastal areas, and are outcompeting most native species. |
Population |
Population trend | Decreasing |
Notes |
| The name 'calcarata' was given by Harvey (1861) based on a specimen collected by Pappe (A.L. Schutte-Vlok pers. comm.). It seems to be somewhat of a misnomer as most known collections of this species are from clay soils, with only a few collections from limestone fynbos. Dahlgren (1965, 1988) cites specimens collected from both renosterveld and limestone fynbos habitats, but does not comment on this unusual variation of habitats. |
Assessment History |
Taxon assessed |
Status and Criteria |
Citation/Red List version | | Aspalathus calcarata Harv. | Least Concern | 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.
Harvey, W.H. 1861. Leguminosae. In: W.H. Harvey and O.W. Sonder (eds). Flora Capensis II (Leguminosae to Loranthaceae):1-285. Hodges, Smith and Co., Dublin.
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. & von Staden, L. 2011. Aspalathus calcarata Harv. National Assessment: Red List of South African Plants version . Accessed on 2025/04/14 |
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