Taxonomy
Scientific Name
Babiana villosula (J.F.Gmel.) Ker Gawl. ex Steud.
Higher Classification
Monocotyledons
Family
IRIDACEAE
National Status
Status and Criteria
Near Threatened B1ab(i,ii,iii,iv,v)+2ab(i,ii,iii,iv,v)
Assessment Date
2021/03/26
Assessor(s)
J.C. Manning, D. Raimondo & T. Patel
Justification
This species has an extent of occurrence (EOO) of 4,488 km², and an area of occupancy (AOO) of 528 km². It has lost 46% of its habitat to urban development, wheat and vineyard expansion, and invasive alien plant infestations. It almost qualifies as Vulnerable under criteria B, and is therefore listed as Near Threatened, as the loss to urban expansion and alien plant invasion is ongoing.
Distribution
Endemism
South African endemic
Provincial distribution
Western Cape
Range
It is endemic to South Africa, and is found from Darling and Malmesbury to Gordon's Bay and the Cape Peninsula.
Habitat and Ecology
Major system
Terrestrial
Major habitats
Swartland Shale Renosterveld, Peninsula Shale Renosterveld, Swartland Granite Renosterveld, Swartland Silcrete Renosterveld, Peninsula Sandstone Fynbos, Cape Winelands Shale Fynbos, Peninsula Shale Fynbos, Peninsula Granite Fynbos, Boland Granite Fynbos, Cape Flats Sand Fynbos, Atlantis Sand Fynbos, Swartland Alluvium Fynbos
Description
It occurs on stony sandstone flats and lower slopes in renosterveld and shale fynbos. The flowers are pollinated by honey bees.
Threats
This species has lost 46% of its habitat (calculated using landcover data in GIS) due to agriculture and urbanisation (a severe past and present threat). Populations have recently been lost in areas like Posdam, Helderberg and Gordon's Bay. However, there are several recent observations of this plant.
Population

Nothing is known about the total population size of this species. However, it is known from many sites and records. There are 236 iNaturalist records of this species with over 100 records from 2020 alone. Several sites reported more than 100 plants in 2018 and 2019. Population decline is inferred from ongoing habitat loos and degradation.


Population trend
Decreasing
Assessment History
Taxon assessed
Status and Criteria
Citation/Red List version
Babiana villosula (J.F.Gmel.) Ker Gawl. ex Steud.EN B1ab(ii,iii,iv,v)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.


Goldblatt, P. and Manning, J.C. 2007. A revision of the southern African genus Babiana, Iridaceae, Crocoideae. Strelitzia 18:1-97. South African National Biodiversity Institute, Pretoria.


Goldblatt, P. and Manning, J.C. 2020. Iridaceae of southern Africa. Strelitzia 42. South African National Biodiversity 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.


Citation
Manning, J.C., Raimondo, D. & Patel, T. 2021. Babiana villosula (J.F.Gmel.) Ker Gawl. ex Steud. National Assessment: Red List of South African Plants version . Accessed on 2024/12/07

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Distribution map

© C. Paterson-Jones

© J.C. Manning


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