''Aspalathus cordicarpa'' is a species of

flowering plant Flowering plants are plants that bear flowers and fruits, and form the clade Angiospermae (), commonly called angiosperms. The term "angiosperm" is derived from the Greek words ('container, vessel') and ('seed'), and refers to those plants th ...

in the genus ''

Aspalathus ''Aspalathus'' is a genus of flowering plants in the family Fabaceae. The yellow flowers and spiny habit of some species have suggested a resemblance to ''Ulex europaeus'', the thorny " English gorse" Accordingly, "Cape Gorse" has been proposed ...

''. Prior to its rediscovery in 2016, ''Aspalathus cordicarpa'' was last collected in 1950 and thought to be extinct. It is endemic to the

Fynbos Fynbos (; meaning fine plants) is a small belt of natural shrubland or heathland vegetation located in the Western Cape and Eastern Cape provinces of South Africa. This area is predominantly coastal and mountainous, with a Mediterranean clim ...

region around

Garcia's Pass The Garcia's Pass is a mountain pass across the Langeberg in the Western Cape province of South Africa, with its highest point at altitude. The regional road numbered R323 uses this pass on its leg between Riversdale in the south and Ladismi ...

in the

Western Cape The Western Cape is a province of South Africa, situated on the south-western coast of the country. It is the fourth largest of the nine provinces with an area of , and the third most populous, with an estimated 7 million inhabitants in 2020 ...

. It is also known as the Heartfruit Capegorse.

Distribution

''Aspalathus cordicarpa'' is found around Garcia's Pass, in sands or

sandstone Sandstone is a clastic sedimentary rock composed mainly of sand-sized (0.0625 to 2 mm) silicate grains. Sandstones comprise about 20–25% of all sedimentary rocks. Most sandstone is composed of quartz or feldspar (both silicates) ...

gravel at mid altitudes.

Gallery

Aspalathus cordicarpa Heartfruit Capegorse 2.jpg Aspalathus cordicarpa Heartfruit Capegorse 3.jpg Aspalathus cordicarpa Heartfruit Capegorse 4.jpg

Conservation status

As of the 2006 classification, ''Aspalathus cordicarpa'' is classified as ''Extinct''. Alien species such as

Acacia mearnsii ''Acacia mearnsii'', commonly known as black wattle, late black wattle or green wattle, is a species of flowering plant in the family Fabaceae and is endemic to south-eastern Australia. It is usually an erect tree with smooth bark, bipinnate lea ...

are a severe past and present threat. Pine plantations are also a threat, as the area that ''Aspalathus cordicarpa'' is found in has been transformed into pine forestry.

References

External links

* Endemic flora of South Africa Flora of South Africa Flora of the Cape Provinces Plants described in 1988 Crotalarieae {{Faboideae-stub