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Scientific Name | Phylica confusa Pillans |
Higher Classification | Dicotyledons |
Family | RHAMNACEAE |
National Status |
Status and Criteria | Vulnerable B1ab(iii)+2ab(iii) |
Assessment Date | 2021/06/01 |
Assessor(s) | D. Raimondo & D. Underwood |
Justification | A range restricted endemic species to the mountains of the southern Cape, this species has an extent of occurrence (EOO) of 1435 km² and an area of occupancy (AOO) of 28 - 50 km². It is known from only seven locations and is declining as a result of loss and degradation of its habitat to invasive alien plants. It therefore qualifies as Vulnerable under criterion B. |
Distribution |
Endemism | South African endemic |
Provincial distribution | Eastern Cape, Western Cape |
Range | This species is endemic to the Outeniqua and Tsitsikamma Mountains of the Western Cape and Eastern Cape provinces, South Africa. |
Habitat and Ecology |
Major system | Terrestrial |
Major habitats | Tsitsikamma Sandstone Fynbos, South Outeniqua Sandstone Fynbos |
Description | It grows on sandstone slopes and peaks. It is a resprouter that grows rapidly after fires and is difficult to observe in old fynbos. |
Threats |
| This species has lost habitat to afforestation in the past. There is a historic collection from Kranshoek, but there is no longer any viable habitat in this area as it has all be forested. Remaining extant subpopulations are threatened by ongoing loss and degradation of their habitat to invasive alien plants. The areas on the northern slopes of the Tsitsikamma mountains are particularly heavily invaded with alien hakeas while some populations in the Outeniqua mountains have invasive pine and hakea species rapidly encroaching. |
Population |
Most records for this species predate 1970 and are only known from herbarium collections, however a few recent observations from the Ounteniqua mountains shows this species occurs as localised stands of between 10 and 50 plants in suitable habitats.
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Population trend | Decreasing |
Assessment History |
Taxon assessed |
Status and Criteria |
Citation/Red List version | | Phylica confusa Pillans | Least Concern | 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.
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. & Underwood, D. 2021. Phylica confusa Pillans. National Assessment: Red List of South African Plants version . Accessed on 2025/04/13 |
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