|
Scientific Name | Blepharis laevifolia Vollesen |
Higher Classification | Dicotyledons |
Family | ACANTHACEAE |
National Status |
Status and Criteria | Rare |
Assessment Date | 2015/07/01 |
Assessor(s) | W. McCleland & L. von Staden |
Justification | A rare, localized habitat specialist (EOO 16 km²), but not threatened. |
Distribution |
Endemism | South African endemic |
Provincial distribution | Mpumalanga |
Range | Southern Kruger National Park. |
Habitat and Ecology |
Major system | Terrestrial |
Major habitats | Delagoa Lowveld |
Description | Brackish flats with clay soil. |
Threats |
| This species has no severe threats. It is very spiny, and unlikely to be browsed. It is however an extremely localized habitat specialist, occurring in small patches of suitable habitat extending for no more than 20-100 meters. A number of these patches are bisected by roads, and road upgrades or maintenance could have a severe impact on these subpopulations (W. McCleland pers. obs.). |
Population |
Blepharis laevifolia was previously only known from the type specimen, collected in 1954. It was relocated in 2015 in the same area. Plants occur in small, isolated patches of between 50 and 100 individuals. It is currently known from only a few roadside records within a very small area in southern Kruger National Park, but intervening areas have not yet been thoroughly surveyed.
|
Population trend | Stable |
Assessment History |
Taxon assessed |
Status and Criteria |
Citation/Red List version | | Blepharis laevifolia Vollesen | Rare | 2015.1 | | Blepharis laevifolia Vollesen | Least Concern | 2012.1 | | Blepharis laevifolia Vollesen | Least Concern | Raimondo et al. (2009) | |
Bibliography |
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.
Vollesen, K. 2000. Blepharis (Acanthaceae): A taxonomic revision. Kew: Royal Botanic Gardens, Richmond, England.
|
Citation |
| McCleland, W. & von Staden, L. 2015. Blepharis laevifolia Vollesen. National Assessment: Red List of South African Plants version . Accessed on 2025/04/14 |
Comment on this assessment
