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Scientific Name | Aspalathus eustonbrownii C.H.Stirt. & Muasya |
Higher Classification | Dicotyledons |
Family | FABACEAE |
National Status |
Status and Criteria | Vulnerable A2c |
Assessment Date | 2023/08/24 |
Assessor(s) | D.I.W. Euston-Brown & H. Mtshali |
Justification | This resprouting shrub has a restricted range in the south of the Western Cape Province of South Africa. An estimated population reduction of 30-50% over three generations is inferred from habitat loss over the past 150 years (generation length 50 years). It therefore meets the threshold for Vulnerable under criterion A2. |
Distribution |
Endemism | South African endemic |
Provincial distribution | Western Cape |
Range | This species has a restricted distribution in the southern Western Cape, South Africa, where it occurs between Bredasdorp and Herbertsdale. |
Habitat and Ecology |
Major system | Terrestrial |
Major habitats | Eastern Ruens Shale Renosterveld, Swellendam Silcrete Fynbos |
Description | It occurs on well-drained sandy loams on gentle south facing slopes of rocky silcrete "koppies", at 300-320 m. |
Threats |
| More than 70% of this species' habitat has been irreversibly transformed, predominantly due to agriculture between Bredasdorp and Mossel Bay and loss continues sporadically. It is found on remnant fragments between wheatland and along roadsides. These remnant fragments continue to decline as a result of overgrazing and road verge clearing.
The rocky habitat on silcrete "koppies" in between ploughed lands suggests that this species will be found in several other locations in the surrounding area.
Competition from unmanaged, alien invasive species is a severe, ongoing threat at all known remaining locations. |
Population |
This species is locally common in remnant fragments of shale renosterveld and fynbos. A population reduction of 30-50% is estimated based on habitat loss due to crop cultivation and alien plant invasion over the past 100 years (generation length 50 years). Population decline due to alien invasion continues. Extensive monitoring of this species by citizen scientists between 2011 and 2022 indicates that some of the subpopulations are small (fewer than 50 plants) and isolated from one another.
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Population trend | Decreasing |
Bibliography |
Stirton, C.H. and Muasya, A.M. 2016. Seven new species and notes on the genus Aspalathus (Crotalarieae, Fabaceae). South African Journal of Botany 104:35-46.
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Citation |
| Euston-Brown, D.I.W. & Mtshali, H. 2023. Aspalathus eustonbrownii C.H.Stirt. & Muasya. National Assessment: Red List of South African Plants version . Accessed on 2024/12/06 |
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