|
Scientific Name | Mesembryanthemum tortuosum L. |
Higher Classification | Dicotyledons |
Family | AIZOACEAE |
Synonyms | Mesembryanthemum aridum Moench, Mesembryanthemum concavum Haw., Mesembryanthemum tortuosum L., Pentacoilanthus tortuosus (L.) Rappa & Camorrone, Phyllobolus tortuosus (L.) Bittrich, Sceletium boreale L.Bolus, Sceletium compactum L.Bolus, Sceletium concavum (Haw.) Schwantes, Sceletium framesii L.Bolus, Sceletium gracile L.Bolus, Sceletium joubertii L.Bolus, Sceletium namaquense L.Bolus, Sceletium namaquense L.Bolus var. namaquense, Sceletium namaquense L.Bolus var. subglobosum L.Bolus, Sceletium ovatum L.Bolus, Sceletium tortuosum (L.) N.E.Br., Sceletium tugwelliae L.Bolus, Tetracoilanthus concavus (Haw.) Rappa & Camarrone |
Common Names | Hotnotskougoed (a), Hottentotskougoed (a), Kanna (a), Kougoed (a) |
National Status |
Status and Criteria | Least Concern |
Assessment Date | 2023/03/03 |
Assessor(s) | D. Raimondo, A. Lynch & K. Lynch |
Justification | This species has an extent of occurrence (EOO) of 128 760 km² and an area of occupancy (AOO) of 516 km². It is known from more than 50 subpopulations and despite being harvested it remains common and widespread. The population is however suspected to be declining at a slow rate due to harvesting for medicinal purposes but no more than 5% of the population is suspected to have been lost. Large subpopulations remain both within and outside of protected areas. Ongoing monitoring is recommended to ensure harvest levels do not cause higher levels of population reduction. Based on its current status it qualifies for listing as Least Concern. |
Distribution |
Endemism | South African endemic |
Provincial distribution | Eastern Cape, Northern Cape, Western Cape |
Range | This species occurs in the Northern, Western and Eastern Cape provinces of South Africa, where it is stretches from Namaqualand to Montagu and Aberdeen. |
Habitat and Ecology |
Major system | Terrestrial |
Major habitats | Agter-Sederberg Shrubland, Albany Broken Veld, Algoa Sandstone Fynbos, Albany Arid Thicket |
Description | It occurs in karroid areas and may grow under bushes on in the open in the northern parts of its distribution and usually on quartzite in the eastern parts of its distribution. |
Threats |
| It is harvested by local people to be used medicinally. It is reported to relieve abdominal pain, hunger and is also used as a sedative. |
Population |
This species is widespread and occurs commonly in many parts of its range, however the population is suspected to be in declining at a slow rate due to harvesting for medicinal use.
|
Population trend | Decreasing |
Assessment History |
Taxon assessed |
Status and Criteria |
Citation/Red List version | | Sceletium tortuosum (L.) N.E.Br. | Least Concern | Raimondo et al. (2009) | | Sceletium tortuosum (L.) N.E.Br. | Not Threatened | Hilton-Taylor (1996) | | Sceletium ovatum L.Bolus | Indeterminate | Hall et al. (1980) | |
Bibliography |
Bredenkamp, C.L. 2019. A flora of the Eastern Cape Province. Strelitzia 41. South African National Biodiversity Institute, Pretoria.
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.
Hall, A.V., De Winter, M., De Winter, B. and Van Oosterhout, S.A.M. 1980. Threatened plants of southern Africa. South African National Scienctific Programmes Report 45. CSIR, Pretoria.
Hilton-Taylor, C. 1996. Red data list of southern African plants. Strelitzia 4. South African National Botanical Institute, Pretoria.
Klak, C., Bruyns, P.V. and Hedderson, T.A.J. 2007. A phylogeny and new classification for Mesembryanthemoideae (Aizoaceae). Taxon 56(3):737-756.
Manning, J.C. and Goldblatt, P. 2012. Plants of the Greater Cape Floristic Region 1: The Core Cape Flora. Strelitzia 29. South African National Biodiversity Institute, Pretoria.
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.
|
Citation |
| Raimondo, D., Lynch, A. & Lynch, K. 2023. Mesembryanthemum tortuosum L. National Assessment: Red List of South African Plants version . Accessed on 2025/05/15 |
Comment on this assessment
