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Scientific Name | Rhynchosia emarginata Germish. |
Higher Classification | Dicotyledons |
Family | FABACEAE |
National Status |
Status and Criteria | Endangered B1ab(iii,v) |
Assessment Date | 2021/05/04 |
Assessor(s) | L. von Staden |
Justification | A rare, range-restricted species with an extent of occurrence (EOO) of 1180 km². It is known from four locations and is declining due to overgrazing and degradation of its habitat. It is therefore assessed as Endangered under criterion B. |
Distribution |
Endemism | South African endemic |
Provincial distribution | Northern Cape |
Range | This species is endemic to the Richtersveld in the Northern Cape. |
Habitat and Ecology |
Major system | Terrestrial |
Major habitats | Central Richtersveld Mountain Shrubland, Richtersberg Mountain Desert |
Description | It occurs on steep rocky slopes or dry riverbeds. |
Threats |
| This species is threatened in the western parts of its range by overgrazing due to severe overstocking of livestock, causing loss of diversity, vegetation cover, trampling and degradation. Rhynchosia species are palatable and this species may have already disappeared in these areas. In more remote areas, it is not currently threatened, but as herders more further away from the western lowlands and settlements in search of grazing, grazing pressure may increase in future. |
Population |
This is a rare and rarely recorded species, known from only four locations, but possibly occurring at a few more. During a recent field survey, this species could not be relocated at the type locality near Numees mine and surrounds on Helskloof, an area affected by severe ongoing overgrazing, and it may already be locally extinct in this area.
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Population trend | Decreasing |
Conservation |
| It is conserved in the Richtersveld National Park. |
Assessment History |
Taxon assessed |
Status and Criteria |
Citation/Red List version | | Rhynchosia emarginata Germish. | EN B1ab(iii,v) | 2015.1 | | Rhynchosia emarginata Germish. | Least Concern | Raimondo et al. (2009) | | Rhynchosia emarginata Germish. | Rare | Hilton-Taylor (1996) | |
Bibliography |
Germishuizen, G. 1987. Fabaceae: A new species of Rhynchosia from the Richtersveld. Bothalia 17(2):181-182.
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 |
| von Staden, L. 2021. Rhynchosia emarginata Germish. National Assessment: Red List of South African Plants version . Accessed on 2025/05/17 |
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