Threatened plants of Southern Africa

Abstract

Lists are provided of 1 915 vascular plant taxa regarded to be either extinct or variously threatened in southern Africa, the region south of (but excluding) Angola, Zimbabwe and Mozambique. These include 39 recently extinct taxa} 105 endangered, 166 vulnerable and declining, 537 critically rare, 261 indeterminate but in one of the above categories, and 807 uncertain whether safe or not. Statistics and lists are given of the plants grouped by families, for countries and provinces, and for degree square areas Methods and schedules used in the study of threatened plants and habitats are described. The findings are discussed in relation to the conservation strategies needed, in particular in the Cape Floristic Kingdom area which appears to be a major crisis zone for the loss of genetic diversity.