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Scientific Name | Conophytum lydiae (H.Jacobsen) G.D.Rowley |
Higher Classification | Dicotyledons |
Family | AIZOACEAE |
Synonyms | Conophytum haramoepense (L.Bolus) G.D.Rowley, Conophytum spathulatum (L.Bolus) G.D.Rowley, Ophthalmophyllum lydiae H.Jacobsen, Ophthalmophyllum spathulatum L.Bolus |
National Status |
Status and Criteria | Endangered A4d |
Assessment Date | 2021/11/29 |
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 8,450 km2 and area of occupancy (AOO) of 220 km2. The population is in decline due to illegal collection for the ornamental succulent plant trade, with collection pressures likely to increase. The threat of illegal collection is therefore regarded as high for this particular species, although its cryptic nature and scattered distribution in remote areas may limit collection to 50% of the population over three generations (90 years). Climate change is also impacting the population although there is uncertainty of the response given the expected resilience of this species. This species therefore qualifies as Endangered under criterion A4. |
Distribution |
Endemism | South African endemic |
Provincial distribution | Northern Cape |
Range | This species is endemic to the Northern Cape province of South Africa. |
Habitat and Ecology |
Major system | Terrestrial |
Major habitats | Desert, Nama Karoo, Succulent Karoo |
Description | This dwarf succulent is found in the Succulent Karoo but also Nama-Karoo and Desert biomes, primarily within the Richtersveld and Namaqualand Hardeveld bioregions. The plants are found on quartz patches and amongst boulders. 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. 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. Illegal collection is suspected to result in a 50% decline of the population over three generations (90 years).
Anthropogenic climate change is a long-term threat to this species. Loss of vegetation cover has been observed across the geographic range occupied by this species 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 27% and 81% by 2080 for this species. 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 7%. Species in this genus have limited dispersal ability and migration to suitable habitats elsewhere is regarded as highly unlikely. |
Population |
It is difficult to fully assess the population size due to lack of information on the species and challenges with its identification but it is likely that there are several thousand mature individuals. The population is experiencing initial declines due to illegal collection for the ornamental succulent plant trade.
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Population trend | Decreasing |
Assessment History |
Taxon assessed |
Status and Criteria |
Citation/Red List version | Conophytum lydiae (H.Jacobsen) G.D.Rowley | Least Concern | Raimondo et al. (2009) | Conophytum lydiae (H.Jacobsen) G.D.Rowley | Not Threatened | Hilton-Taylor (1996) | Ophthalmophyllum spathulatum L.Bolus | Uncertain | Hall et al. (1980) | |
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 lydiae (H.Jacobsen) G.D.Rowley. National Assessment: Red List of South African Plants version . Accessed on 2024/12/07 |