Taxonomy
Scientific Name
Christella altissima Holttum
Higher Classification
Ferns
Family
THELYPTERIDACEAE
Synonyms
Thelypteris altissima (Holttum) Vorster
National Status
Status and Criteria
Data Deficient - Insufficient Information
Assessment Date
2007/10/01
Assessor(s)
L. von Staden & J.E. Burrows
Justification
A very poorly known species that was collected at an unspecified site near Durban over 100 years ago. It has not been seen since, and is most likely extinct in this area due to urban expansion. A plant that is very like this species was collected in the Wolkberg in Limpopo Province in 1990. However, the identity of this plant remains uncertain as John Burrows, a local fern expert, has not been able to compare this specimen with the type.
Distribution
Endemism
South African endemic
Provincial distribution
KwaZulu-Natal, Limpopo
Range
Extinct in Durban, but possibly also occurs in the Wolkberg Mountains in Limpopo Province.
Habitat and Ecology
Major system
Terrestrial
Major habitats
Forest
Description
Coastal forest and possibly riverine forest.
Threats
Urban expansion of Durban probably led to the extinction of of the subpopulation at the type locality, where it has not been seen again for more than 100 years. A possible site in Limpopo Province is not threatened.
Population
Population trend
Unknown
Notes
There is some speculation in the literature (Jacobsen 1983, Schelpe and Anthony 1986, Burrows 1990) as to whether or not this is a valid taxon. It has been thought in the past that the type collection may be of hybrid or polyploid origin, but putative parent species have not been convincingly identified (Schelpe and Anthony 1986). If Burrows's collection is indeed this species, then the possibility that it is an aberrant form or hybrid becomes less likely (Burrows 1990). The specimen was identified as C. altissima according to the identification key, but has not been compared to the type specimen (J.E. Burrows pers. comm.).
Assessment History
Taxon assessed
Status and Criteria
Citation/Red List version
Christella altissima HolttumData Deficient Raimondo et al. (2009)
Thelypteris altissima (Holttum) VorsterExtinct Scott-Shaw (1999)
Thelypteris altissima (Holttum) VorsterExtinct Hilton-Taylor (1996)
Christella altissima HolttumExtinct Hall et al. (1980)
Bibliography

Burrows, J.E. 1990. Southern African ferns and fern allies. Frandsen Publishers, Sandton.


Hall, A.V., De Winter, M., De Winter, B. and Van Oosterhout, S.A.M. 1980. Threatened plants of southern Africa. South African National Scienctific Programmes Report 45. CSIR, Pretoria.


Hilton-Taylor, C. 1996. Red data list of southern African plants. Strelitzia 4. South African National Botanical Institute, Pretoria.


Jacobsen, W.B.G. 1983. The ferns and fern allies of southern Africa. Butterworths, Durban/Pretoria.


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.


Roux, J.P. 2001. Conspectus of southern African Pteridophyta. Southern African Botanical Network Report 13:1-223. SABONET, Pretoria.


Schelpe, E.A.C.L.E. and Anthony, N.C. 1986. Pteridophyta. In: O.A. Leistner (ed). Flora of southern Africa:1-292. National Botanical Institute, Pretoria.


Scott-Shaw, C.R. 1999. Rare and threatened plants of KwaZulu-Natal and neighbouring regions. KwaZulu-Natal Nature Conservation Service, Pietermaritzburg.


Citation
von Staden, L. & Burrows, J.E. 2007. Christella altissima Holttum. National Assessment: Red List of South African Plants version . Accessed on 2025/04/13

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