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Scientific Name | Lapeirousia macrospatha Baker |
Higher Classification | Monocotyledons |
Family | IRIDACEAE |
National Status |
Status and Criteria | Vulnerable A4c |
Assessment Date | 2022/12/07 |
Assessor(s) | P.C.V. Van Wyk & D. Raimondo |
Justification | A restricted endemic with an extent of occurrence (EOO) of 6287 km². This species has been recorded from between 15 and 20 subpopulations over the past 40 years. However, most of the records were collected in the 1980s and there has been significant alteration of its habitat as a result of mining and habitat degradation from livestock farming since 2002. This combined with future habitat loss expected as a result of the proposed Boegoebaai Port and Green Hydrogen Strategic Economic Zone associated developments, will cause an overall decline of at least 30% of the population over the time period starting from 2002 and ending in 2032 (generation length 10 years). This species qualifies for listing as Vulnerable under criterion A. |
Distribution |
Endemism | South African endemic |
Provincial distribution | Northern Cape |
Range | This species is endemic to the Northern Cape Province of South Africa and occurs from Gariep to Kleinsee. |
Habitat and Ecology |
Major system | Terrestrial |
Major habitats | Namaqualand Strandveld, Oograbies Plains Sandy Grassland, Northern Richtersveld Yellow Duneveld, Richtersveld Coastal Duneveld, Northern Richtersveld Scorpionstailveld |
Description | It grows on sandy plains both along the coast and in deep red alluvial blown sands further inland within 70 kms from the coastline. |
Threats |
| This species has lost habitat due to open cast diamond and heavy mineral sand mining especially within the coastal portion of its range. It has also experienced severe habitat degradation as a result of extensive livestock overgrazing that was particularly severe in the Richtersveld between 2002 and 2016 but is still ongoing in some parts of its range.
Abiotic changes linked to global change are currently being experienced in the Richtersveld and are expected to intensify into the future, with observed temperature changes over the past 10 years already reaching those predicted for near future scenarios (2035) (van Wilgen et al. 2016). These climatic changes include changes in wind frequency and direction which have led to substantial movement of the dune systems on which this species occurs. While extensive habitat degradation across its range is leading to increased availability of sandy plains habitat it is unlikely that this species will be able to colonise these new but continuously shifting habitats.
Furthermore the Boegoebaai Port development project being planned for implementation over the next 10 years, which will include the construction of a port for deep sea vessels, railway line and several refineries for oil and other minerals as well as extensive renewable energy facilities to power a green hydrogen plant, is suspected to result in ongoing habitat loss. |
Population |
There are 17 herbarium records of this species collected between 1980 and 1999; however, in recent years there have been fewer records with no specimens included in the herbaria since 1999. Only five observations are included on iNaturalist from the period 2006 to 2016. There have been no records since the intense drought years of 2016 to 2022 despite an increase in citizen science monitoring capacity in South Africa during this time. This likely indicates that the population is declining. Further evidence of decline is inferred from extensive loss and degradation of this species' habitat due to mining activities and livestock overgrazing. With approximately 20% of its range falling within the footprint for the proposed Boegoebaai Port and Green Hydrogen Strategic Economic Zone, which is expected to result in extensive loss of habitat by 2032, an overall decline of at least 30% of the population is suspected to have taken place and continues to take place over the time period from 2002 to 2032.
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Population trend | Stable |
Assessment History |
Taxon assessed |
Status and Criteria |
Citation/Red List version | | Lapeirousia macrospatha Baker | Least Concern | Raimondo et al. (2009) | |
Bibliography |
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.
Snijman, D.A. 2013. Plants of the Greater Cape Floristic Region 2: The extra Cape flora. Strelitzia 30. South African National Biodiversity Institute, Pretoria.
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Citation |
| Van Wyk, P.C.V. & Raimondo, D. 2022. Lapeirousia macrospatha Baker. National Assessment: Red List of South African Plants version . Accessed on 2024/12/07 |
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