Umtiza

Umtiza is a monotypic genus in the legume family Fabaceae containing the single species Umtiza listeriana. This tree is endemic to a small coastal portion of the Eastern Cape in South Africa.^[2]

Umtiza
Flowering at the Pretoria National Botanical Garden
Conservation status
Vulnerable  (IUCN 2.3)[1]
Scientific classification
Kingdom:	Plantae
Clade:	Tracheophytes
Clade:	Angiosperms
Clade:	Eudicots
Clade:	Rosids
Order:	Fabales
Family:	Fabaceae
Subfamily:	Caesalpinioideae
Genus:	Umtiza Sim
Species:	U. listeriana
Binomial name
Umtiza listeriana Sim
Range from East London to Kentani and King William's Town

Distribution

Umtiza listeriana is found from East London to Kentani and King William's Town,^[2] with an EOO of 2,626 km² (1,014 sq mi) at 6 known locations.^[2]

Conservation

In 2020, an area of 1,858.48 ha (4,592.4 acres) surrounding the Umtiza Nature Reserve (one of the last refuges of Umtiza) was declared a Controlled Forest Area to further protect and rehabilitate the remaining Umtiza Forest.^[3] Umtiza listeriana is threatened by the expansion of illegal settlements near the Umtiza Forest, leading to deforestation^[3] and harvesting for traditional medicine.^[2] For these reasons SANBI has given it the conservation classification: Vulnerable B1ab(v).^[2]

Gallery

• Umtiza listeriana at the Pretoria National Botanical Garden
• 
  Tree
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  Umtiza listeriana flowers visited by an African honey bee (Apis mellifera scutellata)
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  Bark
• 
• 
  Old dehisced pods.