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Scientific Name | Conophytum pellucidum Schwantes subsp. cupreatum (Tischer) S.A.Hammer |
Higher Classification | Dicotyledons |
Family | AIZOACEAE |
National Status |
Status and Criteria | Endangered A3c+4d |
Assessment Date | 2021/12/01 |
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 is endemic to the Northern Cape province of South Africa with an extent of occurrence (EOO) of 3,160 km2 and area of occupancy (AOO) of 168 km2. The population is in decline due to illegal collection for the ornamental succulent plant trade, with collection likely to increase as there has been a dramatic increase in the number of species and volume of plants targeted since 2019. Modelling of climate change impacts is predicted to result in a loss of 57% of the population by 2080. An overall decline to the population of 50-60% of the population is possible within three generations. It therefore qualifies as Endangered under criteria A3 and A4. |
Distribution |
Endemism | South African endemic |
Provincial distribution | Northern Cape |
Range | This succulent is endemic to the Northern Cape province of South Africa where it is found on the western fringe of Bushmanland. |
Habitat and Ecology |
Major system | Terrestrial |
Major habitats | Fynbos, Succulent Karoo |
Description | This taxon is predominately restricted to the Succulent Karoo biome but also has a limited presence in the Fynbos biome. The majority of subpopulations are found in the Namaqualand Hardeveld bioregion. The plants occupy (sometimes filling) small, shallow grit-filled depressions on exposed areas of gneiss and are also seen in cracks on exfoliating layers of rock. It has a generation length of 30 years and 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 succulent 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. This variable species is especially popular in cultivation and several thousands illegally collected plants have been confiscated by authorities since 2019. As a result a population decline of 50-60% is suspected over three generations (90 years) due to this activity.
There is no decline in habitat quality for this succulent as inferred by changes in vegetation cover determined from changes in Enhanced Vegetation Index (EVI) between 1984 and 2018 using Landsat data (Venter et al. 2020). Anthropogenic climate change is however 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 77% and 98% by 2080 for this succulent. However, as this taxon possesses certain morphological traits likely to afford resilience to xerophytic conditions and is found 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 57%. Species in this genus have limited dispersal ability and migration to suitable habitats elsewhere is regarded as highly unlikely. |
Population |
It is often locally abundant, although some subpopulations are small. There are no formal estimates of population size for this taxon but the number of mature individuals is likely between 50,000 and 100,000. The population is in decline due to illegal collection for the ornamental succulent plant trade. At least 500 plants have been removed from habitat between 2019 and the end of 2021 based on confiscation records, with many more having likely been removed but not intercepted by law enforcers.
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Population trend | Decreasing |
Assessment History |
Taxon assessed |
Status and Criteria |
Citation/Red List version | | Conophytum pellucidum Schwantes subsp. cupreatum (Tischer) S.A.Hammer var. cupreatum | Least Concern | Raimondo et al. (2009) | | Conophytum pellucidum Schwantes subsp. cupreatum (Tischer) S.A.Hammer var. terrestre (Tischer) S.A.Hammer | 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.
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 pellucidum Schwantes subsp. cupreatum (Tischer) S.A.Hammer. National Assessment: Red List of South African Plants version . Accessed on 2024/12/07 |
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