|
Scientific Name | Polhillia curtisiae C.H.Stirt. & Muasya |
Higher Classification | Dicotyledons |
Family | FABACEAE |
National Status |
Status and Criteria | Critically Endangered D |
Assessment Date | 2014/01/20 |
Assessor(s) | O.E. Curtis & L. von Staden |
Justification | In spite of extensive surveys, this species is known from a single location where less than 50 plants occur within a small remnant of natural vegetation surrounded by crop fields. This site was recently purchased for conservation, and through appropriate management, the population is unlikely to decline further, but continued monitoring will be necessary. |
Distribution |
Endemism | South African endemic |
Provincial distribution | Western Cape |
Range | Overberg north-east of Bredasdorp. |
Habitat and Ecology |
Major system | Terrestrial |
Major habitats | Eastern Ruens Shale Renosterveld |
Description | Dry north-facing slopes in quartz patches with deep, powdery kaolinitic soils in Eastern Rûens Shale Renosterveld. |
Threats |
| Less than 6% of Rûens Shale Renosterveld remains after extensive loss to expanding crop cultivation (Curtis et al. 2013). It is not known what the original extent of P. curtisiae's range was, but it is likely to have declined due to habitat loss in the past. Remaining renosterveld fragments are subjected to overstocking, resulting in ongoing degradation due to overgrazing and trampling. Appropriate fire management in small fragments is also a problem. The property where the only known subpopulation of this species occurs was recently purchased for conservation (O. Curtis, pers. comm. 2013), and appropriate management for the survival of this species will be implemented. |
Population |
Polhillia curtisiae is known from a single quartz outcrop, in spite of intensive surveys of other similar outcrops in the area. Only 28 individuals of various ages were counted in November 2012 (Curtis et al. 2013). This species appears to be a long-lived resprouter, and post-fire recruitment is limited. It is anticipated that appropriate management of the site for conservation will halt the decline of this small population, however, ongoing monitoring will be required.
|
Population trend | Unknown |
Assessment History |
Taxon assessed |
Status and Criteria |
Citation/Red List version | | Polhillia curtisiae C.H.Stirt. & Muasya | CR D | 2014.1 | |
Bibliography |
Curtis, O.E., Stirton, C.H. and Muasya, A.M. 2013. A conservation and floristic assessment of poorly known species rich quartz-silcrete outcrops within Rûens Shale Renosterveld (Overberg, Western Cape), with taxonomic descriptions of five new species. South African Journal of Botany 87:99-111.
|
Citation |
| Curtis, O.E. & von Staden, L. 2014. Polhillia curtisiae C.H.Stirt. & Muasya. National Assessment: Red List of South African Plants version . Accessed on 2025/04/14 |
Comment on this assessment
