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Scientific Name | Conophytum maughanii N.E.Br. subsp. latum (Tischer) S.A.Hammer |
Higher Classification | Dicotyledons |
Family | AIZOACEAE |
Synonyms | Conophytum discrepans G.D.Rowley, Conophytum discrepans G.D.Rowley forma discrepans, Conophytum discrepans G.D.Rowley forma rubrum (Tischer) G.D.Rowley, Conophytum noctiflorum (L.Bolus) G.D.Rowley, Ophthalmophyllum latum Tischer, Ophthalmophyllum latum Tischer forma latum, Ophthalmophyllum latum Tischer forma rubrum (Tischer) G.D.Rowley, Ophthalmophyllum latum Tischer var. rubrum Tischer, Ophthalmophyllum noctiflorum L.Bolus |
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 576 km2 and area of occupancy (AOO) of 60 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 very high for this particular taxon. The small population size makes the succulent susceptible to this activity although it's scattered distribution in remote areas together with its highly cryptic semi-subterranean habit may provide some limits to the impact of collection, resulting in a decline of 75% of the population within the next three generations (90 years). Climate change is also impacting the population although there is uncertainty of the response given the expected resilience of this taxon. It therefore qualifies as Endangered under criterion A4. |
Distribution |
Endemism | South African endemic |
Provincial distribution | Northern Cape |
Range | This dwarf succulent is endemic to a small area of the Richtersveld in the Northern Cape province of South Africa. |
Habitat and Ecology |
Major system | Terrestrial |
Major habitats | Eenriet Plains Succulent Shrubland, Umdaus Mountains Succulent Shrubland, Kosiesberg Succulent Shrubland, Rooiberg Quartz Vygieveld |
Description | This dwarf succulent is endemic to the Richtersveld bioregion of the Succulent Karoo biome where it experiences winter rainfall. The plants have a semi-subterranean habit on flat and gently sloping patches of quartz gravel, often very small in extent. 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. While the very cryptic semi-subterranean habit of this succulent may buffer it to a degree from the impacts of collection the decline in population is suspected to be in the range 50-75% over three generations (90 years).
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 for this taxon. However, as this taxon possesses certain traits likely to afford resilience to xerophytic conditions it is expected to have a level of resilience to climate change and the expected population loss is reduced by 20% to 34%. |
Population |
This dwarf succulent occurs as scattered individuals or small colonies of a few dozen plants. It has a semi-subterranean habit with an inconspicuous flower so can be very cryptic in habitat. The population size can therefore be difficult to determine and is probably underestimated. There are probably between 2,000 and 5,000 mature individuals. This taxon is in an area that is subject to an extended drought 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. latum (Tischer) S.A.Hammer | VU B1ab(iii,v)+2ab(iii,v) | 2020.1 | | Conophytum maughanii N.E.Br. subsp. latum (Tischer) S.A.Hammer | Least Concern | Raimondo et al. (2009) | | Conophytum maughanii N.E.Br. subsp. latum (Tischer) S.A.Hammer | Not Threatened | Hilton-Taylor (1996) | | Ophthalmophyllum noctiflorum 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 maughanii N.E.Br. subsp. latum (Tischer) S.A.Hammer. National Assessment: Red List of South African Plants version . Accessed on 2024/12/03 |
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