Taxonomy
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.


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.


Citation
von Staden, L. 2021. Rhynchosia emarginata Germish. National Assessment: Red List of South African Plants version . Accessed on 2025/05/09

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Distribution map


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