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Scientific Name | Eriospermum exile P.L.Perry |
Higher Classification | Monocotyledons |
Family | RUSCACEAE |
National Status |
Status and Criteria | Vulnerable B2ab(v) |
Assessment Date | 2023/11/23 |
Assessor(s) | F. Munro, C. Archer & J.E. Victor |
Justification | Currently known from between seven and eight locations, with an extent of occurrence (EOO) of 32 403 km² and an area of occurrence (AOO) of 40 km². This species was described from a few scattered plants growing at two widely separated sites, in the southern Tanqua Karoo and western Great Karoo. Recent collections indicate, however, that it occurs more widely in the western parts of the Great Karoo and there is also a collection from southern Namaqualand, which greatly extends its range. While it is possible that a few more as yet undiscovered subpopulations exist, this species is suspected to be declining due to illegal harvesting. It is therefore listed as Vulnerable under criterion B. |
Distribution |
Endemism | South African endemic |
Provincial distribution | Western Cape |
Range | This species is found in Karoopoort and the Little Karoo, in the Western Cape Province of South Africa. |
Habitat and Ecology |
Major system | Terrestrial |
Major habitats | Swartruggens Quartzite Karoo, Eastern Little Karoo, Matjiesfontein Shale Renosterveld, North Outeniqua Sandstone Fynbos |
Description | It grows on steep, shady, southeast-facing slopes in damp pockets among quartzitic rocks and is also found on Beaufort shale. |
Threats |
| There has been an increase in the illegal trade of Eriospermum species to supply the ornamental horticultural trade since the year 2021. The bulbs of other species within the genus are used medicinally. Currently, there are no records of this species being harvested for traditional medicine, however, poaching of plants for the ornamental trade is highly probable given that there is extensive illegal harvesting of succulent and geophytic plant species taking place in the Little Karoo region. |
Population |
The population size and trend of this species are currently unknown, but it is suspected to be declining due to the likelihood of it being poached for the ornamental horticultural trade, however given that subpopulations are widely scattered decline is likely to be taking place at a slow rate.
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Population trend | Decreasing |
Assessment History |
Taxon assessed |
Status and Criteria |
Citation/Red List version | | Eriospermum exile P.L.Perry | Rare | Raimondo et al. (2009) | | Eriospermum exile P.L.Perry | Insufficiently Known | Hilton-Taylor (1996) | |
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.
Hilton-Taylor, C. 1996. Red data list of southern African plants. Strelitzia 4. South African National Botanical Institute, Pretoria.
Perry, P.L. 1994. A revision of the genus Eriospermum (Eriospermaceae) Contributions from the Bolus Herbarium 17:1-320.
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 |
| Munro, F., Archer, C. & Victor, J.E. 2023. Eriospermum exile P.L.Perry. National Assessment: Red List of South African Plants version . Accessed on 2024/12/06 |
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