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Scientific Name | Wurmbea capensis Thunb. |
Higher Classification | Monocotyledons |
Family | COLCHICACEAE |
Synonyms | Melanthium pumilum (Willd.) Ker Gawl., Melanthium wurmbaea Thunb., Melanthium wurmbeum Thunb., Wurmbea campanulata Willd. var. pumila Schult. & J.H.Schult., Wurmbea pumila Willd., Wurmbea spicata (Burm.f.) T.Durand & Schinz forma pumila T.Durand & Schinz |
National Status |
Status and Criteria | Vulnerable D2 |
Assessment Date | 2008/02/05 |
Assessor(s) | D. Raimondo & D.A. Snijman |
Justification | Known from three historical collections, but probably extinct at two of these. The remaining location (in Darling) is a private nature reserve that is well managed. Should this land change hands it is likely that this species will be lost to cultivation. |
Distribution |
Endemism | South African endemic |
Provincial distribution | Western Cape |
Range | Clanwilliam to Stellenbosch. |
Habitat and Ecology |
Major system | Terrestrial |
Major habitats | Swartland Granite Renosterveld, Swartland Silcrete Renosterveld, Olifants Sandstone Fynbos, Atlantis Sand Fynbos |
Description | Seasonally damp acid sands. |
Threats |
| Wurmbea capensis occurs in an area extensively transformed for cultivation, and the only remaining population is on privately owned land, but the current owners of the property are aware of the conservation needs of this species and is ensuring the protection of the population. However, habitat loss remains a potential threat, should the land change hands. |
Population |
Wurmbea capensis is a very rare species, known from only a few, widely scattered collections. Currently a single known subpopulation remains.
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Population trend | Stable |
Conservation |
| Protected in the Rondeberg Private Nature Reserve. |
Assessment History |
Taxon assessed |
Status and Criteria |
Citation/Red List version | | Wurmbea capensis Thunb. | VU D2 | Raimondo et al. (2009) | |
Bibliography |
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.
Nordenstam, B. 1986. The genus Wurmbea (Colchicaceae) in the Cape region. Opera Botanica 87:1-41.
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 |
| Raimondo, D. & Snijman, D.A. 2008. Wurmbea capensis Thunb. National Assessment: Red List of South African Plants version . Accessed on 2025/05/31 |
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