Biology:Polhillia ignota

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Short description: Flowering plant endemic to the Western Cape

Polhillia ignota
Polhillia ignota 1.jpg
Scientific classification edit
Kingdom: Plantae
Clade: Tracheophytes
Clade: Angiosperms
Clade: Eudicots
Clade: Rosids
Order: Fabales
Family: Fabaceae
Subfamily: Faboideae
Genus: Polhillia
Species:
P. ignota
Binomial name
Polhillia ignota
Boatwr.
Polhillia ignota distribution.svg

Polhillia ignota is a species of flowering plant in the genus Polhillia.[2] Prior to its rediscovery in September 2016, it was known from two specimens,[3] and declared extinct in 2014. There are only 13 plants known, on a small renosterveld fragment less than 3 ha (7.4 acres) in size.[4] It is endemic to Eendekuil, in the Western Cape.[1]

Distribution

Polhillia ignota is found from northern Swartland, between Vredenburg, Eendekuil and Porterville.[1][5]

Description

Polhillia ignota is a large, rounded shrub, up to 1 m in height. Its inflorescences are yellow.[4]

Conservation status

Polhillia ignota is classified as Critically Endangered as it occurs in critically endangered Swartland Shale Renosterveld, of which only 10% remain.[1] A single, small subpopulation of 13 plants remain in a renosterveld fragment near Eendekuil, with an EOO 4 km2 (1.5 sq mi), and an AOO of less than 4 km2 (1.5 sq mi). The population is expected to continue to decline due to ongoing threats of habitat degradation and competition from alien invasive plants.[1]

References

  1. 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 1.4 "SANBI Red List of South African Plants". http://redlist.sanbi.org/species.php?species=431-aa. 
  2. "Polhillia ignota Boatwr. | Plants of the World Online | Kew Science" (in en). http://powo.science.kew.org/taxon/urn:lsid:ipni.org:names:77103834-1. 
  3. Ebrahim, Ismail; Boatwright, James Stephen; Du, Preez Brian (2017-03-01). "The rediscovery of Polhillia ignota". Veld & Flora 103 (1): 40–41. https://journals.co.za/doi/10.10520/EJC-6f3813207. 
  4. 4.0 4.1 "Polhillia ignota | PlantZAfrica". http://pza.sanbi.org/polhillia-ignota. 
  5. Boatwright, J. S. (2010-01-01). "A rare new species of Polhillia (Genisteae, Fabaceae)" (in en). South African Journal of Botany 76 (1): 142–145. doi:10.1016/j.sajb.2009.07.006. ISSN 0254-6299. 

External links

Wikidata ☰ Q42561380 entry