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Scientific Name | Cephalophyllum herrei L.Bolus |
Higher Classification | Dicotyledons |
Family | AIZOACEAE |
Synonyms | Cephalophyllum pallens L.Bolus |
National Status |
Status and Criteria | Critically Endangered A2ace+4ace |
Assessment Date | 2022/06/03 |
Assessor(s) | D. Raimondo, P.C.V. Van Wyk & N.A. Helme |
Justification | A Gariep Centre endemic, with an extent of occurrence (EOO) of 493 km², more than 80% of the population has been lost in the past 5 years as a result of drought related mortality. This species is also severely threatened by mining activities. With a generation length of 15 years, it qualifies for listing as Critically Endangered under criterion A. |
Distribution |
Endemism | Not endemic to South Africa |
Provincial distribution | Northern Cape |
Range | Restricted to the western parts of the Gariep Centre of Endemism, this species occurs from Rosh Pinah in Namibia to just south of Sendelingsdrif in South Africa. |
Habitat and Ecology |
Major system | Terrestrial |
Major habitats | Eenriet Plains Succulent Shrubland, Umdaus Mountains Succulent Shrubland, Noms Mountain Desert |
Description | It grows on the southern foot slopes of granodiorite mountains and southern slopes of alluvial terraces of the Orange River. |
Threats |
| Severe overstocking of communal rangelands in the Richtersveld between 2002 and 2015 led to extensive habitat degradation for subpopulations occurring in South Africa. This species has also lost habitat between 1985 and 2022 due to diamond mining, with around 80% of its distribution in South Africa falling within the mining licensed area, and this loss will be ongoing. The most severe threat to this species is climate change as 80% of mature individuals have died as a result of the most severe drought on record. This drought started in 2015 and is still ongoing at the time of assessment. |
Population |
This species is rare in South Africa, known from only three subpopulations but the South African population is continuous with Namibia, where there are a few more subpopulations known. The population is declining rapidly in response to climate change and mining.
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Population trend | Decreasing |
Assessment History |
Taxon assessed |
Status and Criteria |
Citation/Red List version | | Cephalophyllum herrei L.Bolus | VU* B1ab(iii,v) | 2015.1 | | Cephalophyllum herrei L.Bolus | Least Concern | Raimondo et al. (2009) | |
Bibliography |
Raimondo, D., von Staden, L., Foden, W., Victor, J.E., Helme, N.A., Turner, R.C., Kamundi, D.A. and Manyama, P.A. 2009. Red List of South African Plants. Strelitzia 25. South African National Biodiversity Institute, Pretoria.
Snijman, D.A. 2013. Plants of the Greater Cape Floristic Region 2: The extra Cape flora. Strelitzia 30. South African National Biodiversity Institute, Pretoria.
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Citation |
| Raimondo, D., Van Wyk, P.C.V. & Helme, N.A. 2022. Cephalophyllum herrei L.Bolus. National Assessment: Red List of South African Plants version . Accessed on 2024/12/06 |
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