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Scientific Name | Conophytum ectypum N.E.Br. subsp. cruciatum S.A.Hammer |
Higher Classification | Dicotyledons |
Family | AIZOACEAE |
National Status |
Status and Criteria | Critically Endangered A4d; B1ab(iii,v)+2ab(iii,v) |
Assessment Date | 2021/11/22 |
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 where it is known from a single location and has an extent of occurrence (EOO) and area of occupancy (AOO) of 8 km². There is ongoing decline in habitat quality and the number of mature individuals is declining due to the illegal ornamental succulent plant trade, with collection likely to increase as there has been a dramatic increase in the number of species and volume of plants targeted since 2019. The continued threat of illegal collection is therefore regarded as very high for this particular taxon given its single location and a complete decline of up to 100% of the population is likely within the next 30 years (one generation). It therefore qualifies as Critically Endangered under criteria A4 and B1+2. |
Distribution |
Endemism | South African endemic |
Provincial distribution | Northern Cape |
Range | This succulent is endemic to the Northern Cape province of South Africa where it has a very restricted distribution. |
Habitat and Ecology |
Major system | Terrestrial |
Major habitats | Anenous Plateau Shrubland, Namaqualand Klipkoppe Shrubland |
Description | The plants are known from a single, range-restricted, location within the Richtersveld bioregion of the Succulent Karoo biome where they receive winter rainfall. They grow in relatively flat areas amongst fine quartz stones. This succulent 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. The plants are severely range-restricted which renders them highly susceptible to a rapid decline in number through collection or other adverse events. Such illegal collection 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. The plants can be challenging in cultivation and this may increase pressure on the plants in habitat.
Anthropogenic climate change is a long-term threat to this succulent. While it is not possible to model the response of this taxon to climate change due to its restricted distribution, the average loss to climate change for 21 more widely distributed Conophytum species occurring within the same region is used as an indication of likely impact to this taxon. 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 72% and 99% by 2080 for this taxon. Species in this genus have limited dispersal ability and migration to suitable habitats elsewhere is regarded as highly unlikely. Loss of vegetation cover has been observed at this site via Landsat imagery between 1984 and 2018 indicating that habitat quality is already in decline. |
Population |
There are no formal estimates of population size for this succulent but the number of mature individuals is probably in the range 2,500-4,000. The population is in decline due to illegal collection to supply the international trade in ornamental succulents, with several hundred plants removed illegally from the only known location since 2019. It is highly likely to continue to be targeted in coming years. The single range-restricted location makes the taxon highly susceptible to a rapid decline in the population.
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Population trend | Decreasing |
Assessment History |
Taxon assessed |
Status and Criteria |
Citation/Red List version | | Conophytum ectypum N.E.Br. subsp. cruciatum S.A.Hammer | CR B1ab(v)+2ab(v) | 2020.1 | | Conophytum ectypum N.E.Br. subsp. cruciatum S.A.Hammer | NT D1 | 2017.1 | | Conophytum ectypum N.E.Br. subsp. cruciatum S.A.Hammer | Critically Rare | Raimondo et al. (2009) | |
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 ectypum N.E.Br. subsp. cruciatum S.A.Hammer. National Assessment: Red List of South African Plants version . Accessed on 2024/12/08 |
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