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Scientific Name | Watsonia vicschuettei C.J.Potg. & I.M.Johnson |
Higher Classification | Monocotyledons |
Family | IRIDACEAE |
National Status |
Status and Criteria | Critically Endangered B1ab(iii)+2ab(iii); C2a(ii) |
Assessment Date | 2021/07/20 |
Assessor(s) | H. Mtshali |
Justification | This highly localized endemic species is known from a single location near Greytown, with an extent of occurrence (EOO) and area of occupancy (AOO) of 4 km². The population is small, consisting of about 200 plants. Habitat quality continues to decline due to overgrazing. It is therefore listed as Critically Endangered under criteria B and C. |
Distribution |
Endemism | South African endemic |
Provincial distribution | KwaZulu-Natal |
Range | This highly localized endemic occurs near Greytown in the KwaZulu-Natal Province, South Africa. |
Habitat and Ecology |
Major system | Terrestrial |
Major habitats | Midlands Mistbelt Grassland |
Description | It grows in seasonal wetlands in grassland. |
Threats |
| This species' habitat is experiencing ongoing degradation as a result of livestock overgrazing.
The area where this species is found is surrounded by timber plantations, and it is potentially vulnerable to encroachment by alien plants which may pose a threat to the hydrology of the marshland to which it is restricted. |
Population |
This species is restricted to a single location where it forms large clumps. The known subpopulation consist of 200 individuals. Population decline is inferred from decreasing quality of habitat.
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Population trend | Decreasing |
Bibliography |
Goldblatt, P. and Manning, J.C. 2016. Watsonia palustris (Iridaceae), a new species from KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa and a revised key to allied summer rainfall species. South African Journal of Botany 106:149-152.
Potgieter, C.J. and Johnson, I.M. 2018. Watsonia vicschuettei (Iridaceae, Watsonieae), a replacement name for the illegitimate Watsonia palustris. Phytotaxa 364(2):209-210.
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Citation |
| Mtshali, H. 2021. Watsonia vicschuettei C.J.Potg. & I.M.Johnson. National Assessment: Red List of South African Plants version . Accessed on 2024/12/07 |
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