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Scientific Name | Conophytum meyeri N.E.Br. |
Higher Classification | Dicotyledons |
Family | AIZOACEAE |
Synonyms | Conophytum candidum L.Bolus, Conophytum corculum Schwantes, Conophytum ecarinatum L.Bolus (in part), Conophytum ecarinatum L.Bolus var. candidum (L.Bolus) Rawé, Conophytum extractum Tischer, Conophytum globuliforme Schick & Tischer, Conophytum laetum L.Bolus, Conophytum laetum L.Bolus var. extractum (Tischer) Rawé, Conophytum laetum L.Bolus var. laetum, Conophytum leopardinum L.Bolus, Conophytum meyeri N.E.Br. var. globuliforme (Schick & Tischer) Rawé, Conophytum meyeri N.E.Br. var. meyeri, Conophytum meyeri N.E.Br. var. meyeri forma semilunulum (Tischer) Rawé, Conophytum meyeri N.E.Br. var. quinarium L.Bolus, Conophytum meyeri N.E.Br. var. ramosum (Lavis) Rawé, Conophytum microstoma L.Bolus, Conophytum nanum Tischer, Conophytum niveum L.Bolus, Conophytum ovigerum Schwantes, Conophytum papillatum L.Bolus, Conophytum puberulum Lavis, Conophytum ramosum Lavis, Conophytum retusum N.E.Br., Conophytum semilunulum Tischer |
National Status |
Status and Criteria | Vulnerable A4cd |
Assessment Date | 2021/11/30 |
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 succulent species is endemic to the Northern Cape province of South Africa with an extent of occurrence (EOO) of 6,159 km2 and area of occupancy (AOO) of 244 km2. The population is in decline due to the collection for the illegal ornamental succulent plant trade, with collection pressures likely to increase. The threat of illegal collection is therefore regarded as high for this particular taxon, although its scattered distribution in remote areas may limit the decline. Anthropogenic climate change climate change is also impacting the population but while model predictions place this taxon in the category Endangered under criterion A4, the expected population decline has been reduced by 20% based on the uncertainty of the response to climate change. An overall decline to the population of 35-45% of the population is possible within three generations. This species therefore qualifies as Vulnerable under criterion A4. |
Distribution |
Endemism | South African endemic |
Provincial distribution | Northern Cape |
Range | This succulent species is endemic to the Northern Cape province of South Africa. |
Habitat and Ecology |
Major system | Terrestrial |
Major habitats | Succulent Karoo |
Description | This is endemic to the Succulent Karoo biome where it is widespread across the Richtersveld bioregion but is also found in the Namaqualand Hardeveld and Namaqualand Sandveld bioregions. The plants occupy shaded ravines, on quartzite or gneiss from near sea-level to mountain slopes. 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 species is currently threatened by illegal collection for the international trade in ornamental succulents and the population is in decline as a consequence. This is likely to increase in future as there has been a dramatic increase in the number of species and volume of plants targeted since 2019.
Anthropogenic climate change is a long-term threat to this taxon. Loss of vegetation cover has been observed across the geographic range occupied by this succulent via Landsat imagery between 1984 and 2018 indicating a decline in habitat quality. 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 55% and 100% by 2080 for this taxon. However, as this taxon occurs across several vegetation units it is expected to have a level of resilience to climate change and the expected population loss is reduced by 20% to 35%. Species in this genus have limited dispersal ability and migration to suitable habitats elsewhere is regarded as highly unlikely. |
Population |
It is widespread, occurring sometimes as scattered individuals or forming locally dense populations. Whilst this species can be locally abundant, in response to an extended drought in the Richtersveld that started in 2016 and is still ongoing at the time of assessment, the population is suspected to be declining. No formal estimate of the population size has been made but is probably well in excess of 100,000 mature individuals. The population is experiencing initial levels of decline due to illegal collection to supply the international trade in ornamental succulents.
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Population trend | Decreasing |
Assessment History |
Taxon assessed |
Status and Criteria |
Citation/Red List version | | Conophytum meyeri N.E.Br. | Least Concern | 2015.1 | | Conophytum meyeri N.E.Br. | Rare | 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.
Hausfather, Z. and Peters, G.P. 2020. Emissions - the 'business as usual' story is misleading. Nature 577(618-620).
Opel, M.R. 2004. The rediscovery of Crassula alcicornis. Haseltonia 10:38-40.
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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 meyeri N.E.Br. National Assessment: Red List of South African Plants version . Accessed on 2024/12/06 |
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