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Scientific Name | Cyanella marlothii J.C.Manning & Goldblatt |
Higher Classification | Monocotyledons |
Family | TECOPHILAEACEAE |
National Status |
Status and Criteria | Extinct in the Wild |
Assessment Date | 2022/05/25 |
Assessor(s) | D. Raimondo & P.C.V. Van Wyk |
Justification | Cyanella marlothii was known from a single, small subpopulation of fewer than 50 mature individuals scattered over an area of a few hectares between 1925 and 2014. Extreme degradation of its habitat due to livestock overgrazing and trampling, combined with the impacts of an extended drought and extreme winds as a result of climate change has led to complete loss of the population. Repeat searches have taken place at its only known location and in surrounding similar habitats, but no live individuals have been found it is therefore listed as Extinct in the Wild. |
Distribution |
Endemism | South African endemic |
Provincial distribution | Northern Cape |
Range | This species is endemic to the Northern Cape, where it occurs in the Richtersveld west of Ploegberg. |
Habitat and Ecology |
Major system | Terrestrial |
Major habitats | Northern Richtersveld Scorpionstailveld |
Description | It grows in sandy flats. |
Threats |
| This species' habitat was severely degraded due to overstocking of livestock, particularly during the good rainfall years between 2002 and 2012. This overstocking led to loss of vegetation and breaking up of the soil crust as a result of trampling. Between 2016 and 2021, the Richtersveld region experienced a severe drought which resulted in further mortality of the majority of plants occurring on the plains to which this species is restricted. Stronger winds than used to occur historically have become a regular occurrence and are suspected to be the result of climate change. The winds in combination with the severe habitat degradation have resulted in the habitat of the only known site being completely lost as its sandy substrate has been blown away. |
Population |
This species was originally known from a single collection from 1925, and not recorded since, until it was rediscovered in the same area as the first collection in 2014, a year of exceptionally good rainfall in the Richtersveld. It was known from a single, small subpopulation of fewer than 50 mature individuals. All individuals have now been lost due to its habitat being blown away in extreme winds that have occurred since 2019 in the Richtersveld.
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Population trend | Decreasing |
Assessment History |
Taxon assessed |
Status and Criteria |
Citation/Red List version | | Cyanella marlothii J.C.Manning & Goldblatt | CR B1ab(iii,v)+2ab(iii,v); C2a(i,ii); D | 2015.1 | | Cyanella marlothii J.C.Manning & Goldblatt | Data Deficient | 2014.1 | |
Bibliography |
Manning, J.C. and Goldblatt, P. 2012. A revision of Tecophilaeaceae subfam. Tecophilaeoideae in Africa. Bothalia 42(1):21-41.
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Citation |
| Raimondo, D. & Van Wyk, P.C.V. 2022. Cyanella marlothii J.C.Manning & Goldblatt. National Assessment: Red List of South African Plants version . Accessed on 2024/12/07 |
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