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Scientific Name | Conophytum angelicae (Dinter & Schwantes) N.E.Br. subsp. angelicae |
Higher Classification | Dicotyledons |
Family | AIZOACEAE |
Synonyms | Conophytum hansii N.E.Br., Mesembryanthemum angelicae (Dinter & Schwantes) N.E.Br. |
National Status |
Status and Criteria | Endangered A4cd |
Assessment Date | 2021/11/08 |
Assessor(s) | A.J. Young, P.G. Desmet, I. Ebrahim, D. Guo, A. Harrower, L. Jabar, L. Knoetze, C. Rodgerson, P.C.V. Van Wyk & N.N. Mhlongo |
Justification | This dwarf succulent is predominantly found in the Northern Cape province of South Africa but also extends into the Karas region of southern Namibia, with an extent of occurrence (EOO) of 9,870 km², and an area of occupancy (AOO) of 76 km². The population is experiencing initial levels of decline due to the illegal ornamental succulent plant trade, with collection likely to increase. The plants are additionally threatened by mining degrading their habitat. The plants are typically scattered across the landscape as individuals or in small groups which may limit declines due to illegal collection and mining. Anthropogenic climate change is another threat to this taxon in the future. Loss of vegetation cover has been observed across the range occupied by this succulent via Landsat imagery between 1984 and 2018 and is used to infer that the habitat quality is already in decline. Overall a decline of 50% of the population is projected to occur within a three generation time period (90 years) starting in 1984 and ending in 2074. It therefore qualifies as Endangered under criterion A4. |
Distribution |
Endemism | Not endemic to South Africa |
Provincial distribution | Northern Cape |
Range | This taxon is one of a handful of taxa in the genus that cross the Orange River and are found in both Namibia and South Africa. Plants are restricted to the Karas region of southwest Namibia and the Northern Cape province of South Africa where they are primarily located in northwest Bushmanland. |
Habitat and Ecology |
Major system | Terrestrial |
Major habitats | Succulent Karoo |
Description | This taxon is found in three biomes; primarily within the Succulent Karoo but also in Nama-Karoo and Desert biomes in the Richtersveld, Gariep Desert and Bushmanland and West Griqualand bioregions; located in several vegetation units. The taxon extends from the winter rainfall area to areas that experience rainfall in spring and early summer. The plants generally inhabit flat areas covered with small quartz stones. They are often scattered across the landscape as individuals and only rarely found in colonies. This species has a generation length of 30 years. It is expected to be sensitive to the impacts of climate change as it does not disperse and while adapted to arid conditions, is dependent on limited seasonal rainfall. Species in the genus are sensitive to long periods of drought. Drought related mortality has been observed for other closely related taxa within the genus. |
Threats |
| This taxon has been subject to the illegal collection of mature individuals for the international trade in ornamental succulents in 2020-21. This succulent has been sought after by collectors and is highly likely to remain so in future.
Mining and associated infrastructure have degraded the habitat of some of the isolated populations inhabiting inselbergs.
Anthropogenic climate change is a long-term threat to this taxon. Climate models for the likely emission scenarios where emissions stay at present day levels (RCP 2.6) (Hausfather and Peters 2020) and worst case scenarios where emissions continue to increase during the 21st century (RCP 8.5) indicate that there will be a loss of suitable bioclimatic envelope of between 25% and 85% by 2080 for this taxon. Species in this genus have limited dispersal ability and migration to suitable habitats elsewhere is regarded as highly unlikely. |
Population |
This taxon is often found as individual plants and more rarely in colonies, where over 100 plants can be found occupying a small area. The plants are cryptic and so easily overlooked and an underestimation of population size is likely. Population size is estimated to be in the thousands. The population is declining due to illegal collection and degradation and loss of habitat from mining as well as climate change.
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Population trend | Decreasing |
Assessment History |
Taxon assessed |
Status and Criteria |
Citation/Red List version | | Conophytum angelicae (Dinter & Schwantes) N.E.Br. subsp. angelicae | Least Concern | Raimondo et al. (2009) | |
Bibliography |
Hammer, S. 2002. Dumpling and his wife: New view of the genus Conophytum. EAE Creative Colour, Norwich.
Hammer, S.A. 1993. The genus Conophytum: A conograph. Succulent Plant Publications, Pretoria.
Raimondo, D., von Staden, L., Foden, W., Victor, J.E., Helme, N.A., Turner, R.C., Kamundi, D.A. and Manyama, P.A. 2009. Red List of South African Plants. Strelitzia 25. South African National Biodiversity Institute, Pretoria.
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Citation |
| Young, A.J., Desmet, P.G., Ebrahim, I., Guo, D., Harrower, A., Jabar, L., Knoetze, L., Rodgerson, C., Van Wyk, P.C.V. & Mhlongo, N.N. 2021. Conophytum angelicae (Dinter & Schwantes) N.E.Br. subsp. angelicae. National Assessment: Red List of South African Plants version . Accessed on 2024/12/07 |
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