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Scientific Name | Sandersonia aurantiaca Hook. |
Higher Classification | Monocotyledons |
Family | COLCHICACEAE |
Common Names | Chinese-lantern Lily (e), Christmas Bells (e), Geelklokkie (a), Geelklokkies (a), Ihlamvu (z), Ihlamvu Lasenhla (z), Umagobongwana (z), Ushayabhici (z) |
National Status |
Status and Criteria | Near Threatened B2ab(iii) |
Assessment Date | 2022/05/05 |
Assessor(s) | I. Ebrahim & J.C. Manning |
Justification | A species that is fairly widespread but has naturally low numbers of mature individuals in each subpopulation. It has an extent of occurrence (EOO) of 88 455 km² and an area of occupancy (AOO) of 280 km² but has more than 10 locations and is not severely fragmented. Populations are threatened by alien invasive plant species, habitat degradation through overgrazing, and agricultural expansion. It nearly meets the criteria for Vulnerable under criterion B and is assessed as Near Threatened. |
Distribution |
Endemism | Not endemic to South Africa |
Provincial distribution | Eastern Cape, KwaZulu-Natal, Mpumalanga |
Range | This species mainly occurs in northern Kwa-Zulu Natal between Itala and Wakkerstroom and extends into the Eastern Cape Province to Willowvale near Stutterheim. It also occurs in southern parts of Eswatini. |
Habitat and Ecology |
Major system | Terrestrial |
Major habitats | Grassland, Succulent Karoo |
Description | It often occurs in moist grasslands on edges of bush clumps or along forest margins and usually appears after fires. |
Threats |
| Historically this species was highly sought after in the cut flower trade but since the plants are readily available in cultivation, the demand has declined. In certain areas in the KwaZulu Natal province subpopulations are impacted by alien invasive plant species and inappropriate fire management. |
Population |
There has been a recorded decline in the past but that threat has ceased and happened more than 3 generations ago. Populations are fragmented and occur in small numbers on specific habitat. Plants emerge after fire, flower and set seed and wait for the next fire. There are several small subpopulations with few individuals scattered across mostly the Northern KwaZulu-Natal Province.
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Population trend | Decreasing |
Conservation |
| It is conserved in Vernon Crookes Nature Reserve and uKhahlamba Drakensberg Park. |
Assessment History |
Taxon assessed |
Status and Criteria |
Citation/Red List version | | Sandersonia aurantiaca Hook. | Declining | Raimondo et al. (2009) | | Sandersonia aurantiaca Hook. | Lower Risk - Conservation Dependent | Scott-Shaw (1999) | | Sandersonia aurantiaca Hook. | Rare | Hilton-Taylor (1996) | |
Bibliography |
Hilton-Taylor, C. 1996. Red data list of southern African plants. Strelitzia 4. South African National Botanical Institute, Pretoria.
Pooley, E. 2003. Mountain flowers: a field guide to the flora of the Drakensberg and Lesotho. Natal Flora Publications Trust, Durban.
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.
Scott-Shaw, C.R. 1999. Rare and threatened plants of KwaZulu-Natal and neighbouring regions. KwaZulu-Natal Nature Conservation Service, Pietermaritzburg.
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Citation |
| Ebrahim, I. & Manning, J.C. 2022. Sandersonia aurantiaca Hook. National Assessment: Red List of South African Plants version . Accessed on 2024/12/06 |
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