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Polhillia ignota

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Polhillia ignota
Scientific classification Edit this classification
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

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

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

Description

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

Conservation status

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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

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  1. ^ a b c d e "SANBI Red List of South African Plants". South African National Biodiversity Institute Threatened Species Programme. Retrieved 2022-04-16.
  2. ^ "Polhillia ignota Boatwr. | Plants of the World Online | Kew Science". Plants of the World Online. Retrieved 2022-04-16.
  3. ^ Ebrahim, Ismail; Boatwright, James Stephen; Du, Preez Brian (2017-03-01). "The rediscovery of Polhillia ignota". Veld & Flora. 103 (1): 40–41. hdl:10520/EJC-6f3813207.
  4. ^ a b "Polhillia ignota | PlantZAfrica". pza.sanbi.org. Retrieved 2022-04-16.
  5. ^ Boatwright, J. S. (2010-01-01). "A rare new species of Polhillia (Genisteae, Fabaceae)". South African Journal of Botany. 76 (1): 142–145. doi:10.1016/j.sajb.2009.07.006. hdl:11427/28211. ISSN 0254-6299.
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