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Scientific Name | Searsia acocksii (Moffett) Moffett |
Higher Classification | Dicotyledons |
Family | ANACARDIACEAE |
Synonyms | Rhus acocksii Moffett |
Common Names | Pondo Climbing Currant (e) |
National Status |
Status and Criteria | Near Threatened B1ab(iii)+2ab(iii) |
Assessment Date | 2007/10/31 |
Assessor(s) | L. von Staden & A.T.D. Abbott |
Justification | A range-restricted species (EOO 1700 km², AOO 200 km²). Declining in extent and habitat quality outside formal reserves, due to too frequent and intense grassland fires impacting on forest margins. Subpopulations not severely fragmented and occurs in 10-20 locations. |
Distribution |
Endemism | South African endemic |
Provincial distribution | Eastern Cape, KwaZulu-Natal |
Range | Oribi Gorge to Isicezula Forest. |
Habitat and Ecology |
Major system | Terrestrial |
Major habitats | Forest |
Description | Pondoland scarp forest, understorey shrub in forest margins or rocky outcrops above river gorges, restricted to Msikaba Formation Sandstone, 200-600 m. |
Threats |
| The main threat to Pondoland woody endemics restricted to forest margins is too frequent and intense grassland fires that are causing forest margins to recede (D. Styles, C.R. Scott-Shaw pers. obs.) This threat is affecting forest margins mainly in the areas between Umtamvuna and Mkambati Nature Reserves, and around Lusikisiki.
From Port Edward to Oribi the largest remaining areas of forest are fairly well protected within the Umtamvuna and Oribi Gorge Nature Reserves, however, some areas of forest above the edges of these deep gorges have undoubtedly been cleared for forestry and agriculture (mainly sugarcane) in the past.
Smaller forest patches outside of reserves are threatened by the effects of fragmentation and isolation within a transformed landscape as well as alien invasive encroachment. The small forest fragment at Izotsha Falls is severely degraded due to firewood harvesting (Van Wyk 1984). |
Population |
Population trend | Decreasing |
Assessment History |
Taxon assessed |
Status and Criteria |
Citation/Red List version | | Searsia acocksii (Moffett) Moffett | NT B1ab(iii)+2ab(iii) | Raimondo et al. (2009) | | Rhus acocksii Moffett | Lower Risk - Least Concern | Scott-Shaw (1999) | |
Bibliography |
Abbott, T. 2006. The story of the Pondoland Centre. PlantLife 33&34:5-72.
Boon, R. 2010. Pooley's Trees of eastern South Africa. Flora and Fauna Publications Trust, Durban.
Moffett, R.O. 1988. Rhus acocksii (Anacardiaceae), yet another new endemic from the Mtamvuna area. South African Journal of Botany 54(2):172-174.
Moffett, R.O. 1993. Rhus. In: O.A. Leistner (ed). Flora of southern Africa 19 Part 3: Anacardiaceae, Fascicle 1:1-129. National Botanical Institute, 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.
Scott-Shaw, C.R. 1999. Rare and threatened plants of KwaZulu-Natal and neighbouring regions. KwaZulu-Natal Nature Conservation Service, Pietermaritzburg.
Van Wyk, A.E. 1984. A new species of Maytenus (Celastraceae) from southern Natal. South African Journal of Botany 3(2):115-119.
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Citation |
| von Staden, L. & Abbott, A.T.D. 2007. Searsia acocksii (Moffett) Moffett. National Assessment: Red List of South African Plants version . Accessed on 2025/04/14 |
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