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Scientific Name | Pachypodium succulentum (Jacq.) Sweet |
Higher Classification | Dicotyledons |
Family | APOCYNACEAE |
Common Names | Bergkambroo (a), Bobbejaankambroo (a), Bobbejaankos (a), Dikvoet (a), Kafferkambroo (a), Ystervarkkambroo (a) |
National Status |
Status and Criteria | Vulnerable A2acd |
Assessment Date | 2022/07/15 |
Assessor(s) | N.N. Mhlongo, T. Variawa & J.H. Vlok |
Justification | This species is widespread in South Africa. It is severely impacted by illegal collection for the specialist succulent trade, which has resulted in the local extinction of subpopulations in the Port Elizabeth region. The population has experienced a decline of at least 30% in the past three generations (150 years) due to the combined impacts of climate change, illegal collection, habitat loss and degradation. It therefore qualifies as Vulnerable under criterion A. |
Distribution |
Endemism | South African endemic |
Provincial distribution | Eastern Cape, Free State, Northern Cape, Western Cape |
Range | This species is widely distributed in South Africa and has been recorded in the Eastern, Western and Northern Cape provinces as well as the Free State province. It is found in Bethulie, Middelburg, Queenstown, south of Graff-Reneit to Komga and from Baviaanskloof to Peddie. |
Habitat and Ecology |
Major system | Terrestrial |
Major habitats | Thukela Thornveld, Thukela Valley Bushveld, Agter-Sederberg Shrubland, Upper Karoo Hardeveld, Drakensberg Foothill Moist Grassland, Algoa Sandstone Fynbos, Doubledrift Karroid Thicket |
Description | It occurs in dry, rocky places in succulent shrub vegetation. |
Threats |
| The species is impacted by the ongoing harvesting of wild specimens to supply the horticulture trade. Collectors have been reported to dig up whole plants and can remove the entire population in one collection event. More than 47 000 live plants have been exported from South Africa, including more than 10 000 wild-collected specimens. One of the nurseries, which was a major exporter for this species, was recently exposed to be involved in the collecting of wild plants for several species. It is therefore assumed that the majority, if not all exports from this nursery were likely to have been wild collected (Scientific Authority of South Africa, Pachypodium report 2018/2019). The ongoing trade is suspected to be laundering of wild sourced plants (Scientific Authority of South Africa, Pachypodium report 2018/2019). Anthropogenic climate change is a long-term threat to this species. Climate models for the future emission scenarios (RCP 8.5) predict that over 50-60% of its habitat will be lost by the time frame 2061-2080 (Guo et al. 2019). Climate models also include new suitable habitat becoming available, however both this species ability to disperse to new suitable habitat and its resilience to the impact of climate change are unknown, we therefore conservatively estimate that between 30 and 50% of the population may be impacted as a result of climate change. The species' habitat is under pressure due to habitat loss and degradation across its range, particularly in the Eastern Cape. Overgrazing and predation by farm animals and porcupines is an additional threat to the population. |
Population |
In the 2010/2011 resource surveys conducted by the South African National Biodiversity Institute, this species’ population was estimated to be around 34 100 plants, which included 5000 seedlings and 2700 plants with large caudices. More than 100 historical sites were assessed, and plants were only found in 46 of these sites, which suggests a steep decline. Recruitment of seedlings appeared to be infrequent in most of the subpopulations and seedlings were mostly found to be associated with nurse plants. Many subpopulations lacked large, older individuals which was concerning as this species is long-lived and is therefore characterized by adult persistence rather than high recruitment. Wild harvesting of plants was formerly thought to be negligible but the recent sourcing of plants from wild populations has led to the local extinction of subpopulations in the Gqeberha area. Subpopulations occurring on privately owned farms are seldomly poached and may only be impacted by low levels of herbivory by porcupines. Large-scale harvesting is evident in subpopulations closer to residential areas like De Rust. Evidence of illegal harvesting was also noted by SANBI staff during the surveys. The population is therefore suspected to have declined by at least 30% in the past three generations due to the combined effects of climate change, illegal collection, land transformation as well as habitat degradation.
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Population trend | Decreasing |
Assessment History |
Taxon assessed |
Status and Criteria |
Citation/Red List version | | Pachypodium succulentum (Jacq.) Sweet | Least Concern | Raimondo et al. (2009) | |
Bibliography |
Goldblatt, P. and Manning, J.C. 2000. Cape Plants: A conspectus of the Cape Flora of South Africa. Strelitzia 9. National Botanical Institute, Cape Town.
Guo, D., Powrie, L.W. and Boyd, D.W. 2019. Climate change and biodiversity threats on Pachypodium species in South Africa. Journal of geoscience and environmental protection 7 37-44.
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.
Vlok, J. and Schutte-Vlok, A.L. 2010. Plants of the Klein Karoo. Umdaus Press, Hatfield.
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Citation |
| Mhlongo, N.N., Variawa, T. & Vlok, J.H. 2022. Pachypodium succulentum (Jacq.) Sweet. National Assessment: Red List of South African Plants version . Accessed on 2024/12/06 |
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