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Scientific Name | Xerophyta adendorffii Behnke |
Higher Classification | Monocotyledons |
Family | VELLOZIACEAE |
National Status |
Status and Criteria | Vulnerable B1ab(iii)+2ab(iii) |
Assessment Date | 2014/05/12 |
Assessor(s) | L. von Staden |
Justification | A very localized species (EOO 93 km²), known from fewer than 10 locations and declining due to ongoing habitat loss and degradation. |
Distribution |
Endemism | South African endemic |
Provincial distribution | Gauteng, North West |
Range | Magaliesberg and Witwatersberg ranges between Brits and Lanseria Airport in north-western Gauteng. |
Habitat and Ecology |
Major system | Terrestrial |
Major habitats | Gauteng Shale Mountain Bushveld, Carletonville Dolomite Grassland |
Description | Dolomite and quartzite ridges and outcrops. |
Threats |
| This localized species occurs in a rural area on the outskirts of Gauteng Province, and natural vegetation in this area is still relatively intact, with only around 20% currently irreversibly modified. As urban areas continue to expand however, pressure on this species' habitat is likely to increase in future. There is already extensive ongoing residential development around Hartbeespoort Dam, which is likely to impact the population. Competition from alien invasive plants and habitat degradation due to overgrazing are two additional, minor threats. |
Population |
This species is currently known from only a few collections documented in the literature (Behnke et al. 2013), and appears to be extremely localized. The number and size of subpopulations are however not known, and further surveys are needed to determine the status and trends of the population.
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Population trend | Decreasing |
Assessment History |
Taxon assessed |
Status and Criteria |
Citation/Red List version | | Xerophyta adendorffii Behnke | VU B1ab(iii)+2ab(iii) | 2014.1 | |
Bibliography |
Behnke, H.D., Hummel, E., Hillmer, S., Sauer-Gürth, H., Gonzalez, J. and Wink, M. 2013. A revision of African Velloziaceae based on leaf anatomy characters and rbcL nucleotide sequences. Botanical Journal of the Linnean Society 172(1):22-94.
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Citation |
| von Staden, L. 2014. Xerophyta adendorffii Behnke. National Assessment: Red List of South African Plants version . Accessed on 2025/04/14 |
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