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Scientific Name | Anacampseros perplexa (G.Will.) Snijman |
Higher Classification | Dicotyledons |
Family | ANACAMPSEROTACEAE |
Synonyms | Avonia perplexa G.Will. |
Common Names | Gansmis (a) |
National Status |
Status and Criteria | Critically Endangered A2ae+4ae; B1ab(ii,iii,v)+2ab(ii,iii,v) |
Assessment Date | 2022/08/09 |
Assessor(s) | P.C.V. Van Wyk, N.A. Helme & D. Raimondo |
Justification | A restricted endemic to the Richtersveld region of South Africa, with an extent of occurrence (EOO) and an area of occupancy (AOO) of 4 km². The only known location has declined by more than 80% since 2014 as a result of climate change and mining (generation length of 20-30 years). Loss as a result of these pressures is ongoing. It is also potentially threatened by illegal collection given the current popularity of other species within this genus in the ornamental succulent horticultural trade. It therefore qualifies for listing as Critically Endangered under criteria A and B. |
Distribution |
Endemism | South African endemic |
Provincial distribution | Northern Cape |
Range | This species occurs in the Richtersveld region, South Africa. |
Habitat and Ecology |
Major system | Terrestrial |
Major habitats | Desert |
Description | It grows on quartz-strewn pavements and dolomite outcrops. |
Threats |
| The only known location falls within the Lower Orange River mining licensed area where there is ongoing loss of habitat as a result of mining activities. Furthermore the population is declining due to climate change. It has experienced below average rainfall since 2012. Predictions of future climate change include further increases in annual average temperature of between 1.4°C and 2.4°C by 2050, which will result in unbearably hot temperatures and ongoing aridification throughout significant portions of the year (Van Wilgen et al. 2017). This species is potentially threatened by illegal collection to supply the succulent ornamental plant trade since many other species within the genus have been targeted since 2019 for the illegal succulent trade. |
Population |
This species was abundant in November 2014, but repeat monitoring at the only known locations indicates that the population has declined by more than 80%. Decline due to drought, mining and illegal collection is ongoing.
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Population trend | Decreasing |
Assessment History |
Taxon assessed |
Status and Criteria |
Citation/Red List version | | Anacampseros perplexa (G.Will.) Snijman | Least Concern | 2015.1 | | Avonia perplexa G.Will. | 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.
Van Wilgen, N.J. and Herbst, M. 2017. Taking stock of parks in a changing world: The SANParks Global Environmental Change Assessment. SANParks, Cape Town.
Williamson, G. 2006. A new Anacampseros L. and two new Avonia (Mey. ex Fenzl) G.D. Rowley species (Portulacaceae) from northern Namaqualand, South Africa. Aloe 43(1):12-17.
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Citation |
| Van Wyk, P.C.V., Helme, N.A. & Raimondo, D. 2022. Anacampseros perplexa (G.Will.) Snijman. National Assessment: Red List of South African Plants version . Accessed on 2024/12/06 |
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