This Friday we have two species that we are listing within our Fridays Endangered Species Article. Our first article for this Friday we talk about the Moraea vuvuzela. Moraea vuvuzela is a plant named after the noisy trumpet, vuvuzela. Moraea is a genus of plants in family Iridaceae. This quite stunning species is a relatively new botanical specimen endemic to the Western Cape of South Africa and mainly confined to the Worcester, near Brandvlei. Moraea has some Football history to it too. In honor of the first Soccer World Cup held on the African continent, this newly discovered Iris species from Worcester Valley in the Western Cape has been named Moraea vuvuzela after the distinctive horn that has captured the unique spirit of the event. Sadly now listed as critically endangered with many threats associated to this stunning specimen. The new Iris of the genus Moraea was discovered by Rawsonville resident and conservationist Anso le Roux in a veld near Cape Town in 2009. It has been scientifically described by Dr John Manning (SANBI) and Dr Peter Goldblatt (Missouri Botanical Gardens, USA). Missouri Botanical Gardens we know well of which our American team went to visit at the start of the month documenting on the Amorphophallus titanum, dubbed corpse flower - its named the corpse flower due to its rather distinctive repulsive rotten flesh type smell. The smell it gives off is to attract a wide range of pollinating insects that continue the life cycle of this plant that hosts the worlds largest flower on planet earth. See here for more information missouribotanicalgarden.org/gardens-gardening/our-garden/notable-plant-collections/titan-arum.aspx Moraea vuvuzela has many threats that include; Moraea vuvuzelas low lying, loamy clay habitat is considered most ideal for crop cultivation and it is highly likely that a large proportion of this species population was already lost to agriculture in the past. The construction of two major dams have also caused significant habitat loss before this species was described. A historical record from 1937 indicates that it also occurred in the Theewaterskloof area between Franschhoek and Villiersdorp, but the population here is quite likely lost to the construction of the Theewaterskloof Dam. Two of the three known subpopulations occur right on the edge of the Brandvlei and Kwaggaskloof dams, where they are threatened by erosion of their habitat when the dams are filled to capacity and strong winds cause soil banks above the waters edge to collapse. Local researcher Anso le Roux, who discovered the species, has lost a number of her research plots around the dam to erosion. Population trend is decreasing. When first encountered, the species appeared to be very rare. A controlled burn however stimulated flowering in dormant plants and the population at the type locality consists of many thousands of plants. There are currently three known existing subpopulations. A continuing decline has been observed due to erosion of the habitat. End of report; Subscribe to our environmental and animal welfare news site here; speakupforthevoiceless.org Subscribe to our sister organisation here and help us close down the illegal and legal pet and bush meat trade suppliers here at; saynotodogmeat.net [email protected] Donate to Funding African Wildlife Survival here at https://facebook/pages/International-Animal-Rescue-Foundation-World-Action-South-Africa/199685603444685?sk=app_117708921611213 OR alternatively you can donate to our main communication site that is directed to our Funding African Wildlife Survival project here at; international-animalrescue-foundation.org.uk and use the right hand side donate tab :) For further information contact us below at; [email protected] Check out our new Blogster at Dogster below of which we won the Dogster Hero Award :D dogster/lifestyle/dog-cat-meat-trade-asia-africa-saynotodogmeat-net Have a nice day Dr Josa Calos Depre Chief Environmental Officer Environmentalist and Botanist
Posted on: Fri, 01 Aug 2014 00:58:44 +0000
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