Breede Valley Freesia

Taxonomy
Scientific Name
Freesia marginata J.C.Manning & Goldblatt
Higher Classification
Monocotyledons
Family
IRIDACEAE
Common Names
Breede Valley Freesia (e)
National Status
Status and Criteria
Critically Endangered B1ab(i,ii,iii,iv,v)+2ab(i,ii,iii,iv,v)
Assessment Date
2022/01/17
Assessor(s)
J.C. Manning, D. Raimondo & N.A. Helme
Justification
This is a rare, range-restricted species, with an extent of occurrence (EOO) and an area of occupancy (AOO) of 4 km². It is known from one location and is declining due to ongoing habitat loss as a result of agricultural expansion. The type locality was lost to ploughing between 2015 and 2020. It is therefore listed as Critically Endangered under criterion B.
Distribution
Endemism
South African endemic
Provincial distribution
Western Cape
Range
It is endemic to South Africa, and is found in the Breede River Valley between Worcester and Robertson in the Western Cape Province.
Habitat and Ecology
Major system
Terrestrial
Major habitats
Robertson Karoo, Breede Alluvium Renosterveld, Breede Sand Fynbos
Description
It occurs in open succulent karoo shrubland, in washes on sandstone-shale transitions.
Threats
This species is threatened by ongoing habitat loss to expanding olive orchards and vineyards. This species' habitat is already more than 50% transformed, and loss is continuing.
Population

It occurs in small subpopulations on fragments among expanding orchards and vineyards. The overall population has a decreasing trend. The type locality had fewer than 100 plants (J.C. Manning, pers. obs. 2002) and has been lost to ploughing (between 2015 and 2020). Only one subpopulation remains extant and there are fewer than 100 mature individuals there.


Population trend
Decreasing
Assessment History
Taxon assessed
Status and Criteria
Citation/Red List version
Freesia marginata J.C.Manning & GoldblattEN DRaimondo et al. (2009)
Bibliography

Manning, J.C. and Goldblatt, P. 2005. A new species of Freesia (Iridaceae: Crocoideae) from the succulent karoo, South Africa, and notes on nomenclature and infrageneric classification. Novon 15(1):168-172.


Manning, J.C. and Goldblatt, P. 2010. Botany and horticulture of the genus Freesia. Strelitzia 27:1-114. 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. & Helme, N.A. 2022. Freesia marginata J.C.Manning & Goldblatt. National Assessment: Red List of South African Plants version . Accessed on 2024/12/06

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Distribution map


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