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Scientific Name | Eriosema dregei E.Mey. |
Higher Classification | Dicotyledons |
Family | FABACEAE |
Synonyms | Eriosema squarrosum (Thunb.) Walp. var. dregei Benth. ex Harv., Eriosema zeyheri E.Mey. var. dregei (E.Mey.) Baker f., Rhynchosia dregei (E.Mey.) Steud. |
National Status |
Status and Criteria | Vulnerable A2c; B1ab(ii,iii)+2ab(iii) |
Assessment Date | 2021/07/19 |
Assessor(s) | H. Mtshali, K. Grieve & L. von Staden |
Justification | This species is endemic to the Pondoland Centre of Endemism and has a small geographic range with an extent of occurrence (EOO) of 744 km². It is known from between six and 10 locations, and is declining due to ongoing habitat loss and degradation across its range. It is a long-lived grassland forb with a generation length of at least 70 years. Since it has lost approximately 50% of its suitable habitat over the past 200 years, it is inferred that a population decline of between 30% and 45% has taken place. It therefore qualifies for listing as Vulnerable under criterion A and B. |
Distribution |
Endemism | South African endemic |
Provincial distribution | Eastern Cape, KwaZulu-Natal |
Range | This species has a limited distribution between KwaZulu-Natal and the Eastern Cape, from Oribi Gorge to Msikaba River Mouth. |
Habitat and Ecology |
Major system | Terrestrial |
Major habitats | Pondoland-Ugu Sandstone Coastal Sourveld |
Description | This species is endemic to low lying coastal dunes and rocky grasslands below 200 m. It is a long-lived species and the generation length is estimated to be at least 70 years. |
Threats |
| About 50% of this species' habitat is irreversibly transformed, predominantly due to agriculture (mostly sugarcane or macadamia plantations) but also due to urban expansion. In other areas where it occurs, the habitat is degraded by invasive alien species, including Hakea sericea and Acacia longifolia.
Plants remain in remnant grasslands both within and outside of protected areas. It is protected within the Mkhambathi, Umtamvuna and Red Desert nature reserves. |
Population |
It used to be common, but now remains at between 6 and 10 locations. Lots of plants occur in a small area in the Red Desert Nature Reserve, some at Umtamvuna and a few plants at Oribi flats. A continuing decline is inferred from ongoing loss of habitat and competition from alien invasive plants in some parts of its range.
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Population trend | Decreasing |
Assessment History |
Taxon assessed |
Status and Criteria |
Citation/Red List version | | Eriosema dregei E.Mey. | Least Concern | Raimondo et al. (2009) | | Eriosema dregei E.Mey. | Data Deficient | Scott-Shaw (1999) | | Eriosema dregei E.Mey. | Rare | Hilton-Taylor (1996) | |
Bibliography |
Hilton-Taylor, C. 1996. Red data list of southern African plants. Strelitzia 4. South African National Botanical Institute, Pretoria.
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.
Stirton, C.H. 1986. The Eriosema squarrosum complex (Papilionoideae, Fabaceae) in southern Africa. Bothalia 16(1):11-22.
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Citation |
| Mtshali, H., Grieve, K. & von Staden, L. 2021. Eriosema dregei E.Mey. National Assessment: Red List of South African Plants version . Accessed on 2024/12/07 |
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