Plants Possibly Extinct in Limpopo

CR PE ASPHODELACEAE Kniphofia crassifolia
Last seen in 1880. More than 80% of the grasslands in the Woodbush area, where this species presumably grew, has been converted to commercial pine plantations since the type collection. Remnant fragments are severely degraded either due to too frequent fire, or to thick infestations of invasive alien plants. If, like many congeners, this species grew in marshy areas, the possibility of its persistence is particularly poor as pine plantations lower the water table in open grassland fragments. Searches in the area have failed to relocated this species.
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CR PE APOCYNACEAE Orbea elegans
Described in 2004 from a single plant at a site that has subsequently been destroyed by livestock overgrazing and erosion. Searches in the area have not yet relocated any other surviving individuals. The site of another unconfirmed record seen in the 1960s was destroyed by dam construction.
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EW ZAMIACEAE Encephalartos brevifoliolatus Escarpment Cycad
When this species was described in 1996, there were thought to be five mature plants in one site in the Limpopo Province. Collectors removed most of the remaining plants and left only a few damaged stems. These were removed by conservation officials for ex situ conservation.
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EW ZAMIACEAE Encephalartos nubimontanus Blue Cycad
Surveys conducted in Limpopo province show a decline from 66 plants in the 1990s, to eight plants in 2001 and no recorded plants in 2004. As with other cycad species in Limpopo province it was mostly impacted by illegal collecting.
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Julkaistu huhtikuu 7, 2023 07:42 AP. käyttäjältä jennagbsn