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Scientific Name | Conophytum maughanii N.E.Br. subsp. armeniacum S.A.Hammer |
Higher Classification | Dicotyledons |
Family | AIZOACEAE |
National Status |
Status and Criteria | Endangered 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 is endemic to the Northern Cape province of South Africa with an extent of occurrence (EOO) of 1,409 km2 and area of occupancy (AOO) of 52 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 very high for this particular taxon and a decline of between 50 and 60% of the population is likely within the next three generations (90 years). Climate change is also impacting the population with reduction by 2080 suspected to be 34%. Given levels of decline expected from illegal collection this succulent qualifies as Endangered under criterion A4. |
Distribution |
Endemism | South African endemic |
Provincial distribution | Northern Cape |
Range | This succulent is endemic to a small part of the Richtersveld region of the Northern Cape province of South Africa. |
Habitat and Ecology |
Major system | Terrestrial |
Major habitats | Succulent Karoo |
Description | This succulent is only recorded from the Richtersveld and Namaqualand Hardeveld bioregions of the Succulent Karoo biome. The plants inhabit flat or gently sloping patches (sometimes extensive) of quartz gravel where they have a semi-subterranean habit. This taxon 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 is currently threatened by illegal collection for the international trade in ornamental succulents and the population is in decline as a result. 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. The cryptic semi-subterranean habit of this succulent may buffer the impacts of collection to a degree and may limit any decline in population to 50-60%.
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 54% and 80% by 2080. 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 34%. |
Population |
It often occurs as scattered individuals or in small colonies which may be locally abundant. The plants have a semi-subterranean habit with an inconspicuous flower and can be very cryptic in habitat. The population size is therefore difficult to determine but is suspected to be between 10,000 and 50,000 mature individuals. This taxon can be locally abundant, however 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. The population is also experiencing initial levels of decline 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 maughanii N.E.Br. subsp. armeniacum 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 maughanii N.E.Br. subsp. armeniacum S.A.Hammer. National Assessment: Red List of South African Plants version . Accessed on 2024/12/07 |
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