|
Scientific Name | Richtersveldia columnaris (Nel) Meve & Liede |
Higher Classification | Dicotyledons |
Family | APOCYNACEAE |
Synonyms | Echidnopsis columnaris (Nel) R.A.Dyer & D.S.Hardy, Notechidnopsis columnaris (Nel) Lavranos & Bleck, Trichocaulon columnare Nel |
National Status |
Status and Criteria | Vulnerable B1ab(iii,v)+2ab(iii,v) |
Assessment Date | 2015/06/10 |
Assessor(s) | L. von Staden & P.C.V. Van Wyk |
Justification | A range-restricted (EOO 564 km²), but still fairly common species (estimated eight to 10 locations), that is declining due to ongoing habitat degradation and succulent collecting. |
Distribution |
Endemism | South African endemic |
Provincial distribution | Northern Cape |
Range | Central mountains of the Richtersveld from Kodas Peak to Eksteenfontein. |
Habitat and Ecology |
Major system | Terrestrial |
Major habitats | Central Richtersveld Mountain Shrubland |
Description | Steep, rocky slopes or stony summits in short scrub, growing inside bushes or between rocks. |
Threats |
| Richtersveldia columnaris is declining due to habitat degradation as a result of severe overgrazing. This species is not grazed, but is dependent on shelter provided by larger shrubs. In many areas of the Richtersveld, overgrazing has significantly reduced shrub cover. This species is also targeted by succulent plant collectors, and field observations recorded whole plants disappearing from the wild in areas close to roads. |
Population |
This species is still relatively common in the northern part of its range, but further south it is known from only a few scattered records.
|
Population trend | Decreasing |
Assessment History |
Taxon assessed |
Status and Criteria |
Citation/Red List version | | Richtersveldia columnaris (Nel) Meve & Liede | VU B1ab(iii,v)+2ab(iii,v) | 2015.1 | | Notechidnopsis columnaris (Nel) Lavranos & Bleck | Rare | Raimondo et al. (2009) | | Notechidnopsis columnaris (Nel) Lavranos & Bleck | Rare | Hilton-Taylor (1996) | | Echidnopsis columnaris (Nel) R.A.Dyer & D.S.Hardy | Vulnerable | Hall et al. (1980) | |
Bibliography |
Bruyns, P.V. 1999. A systematic analysis with notes on the taxonomy of Notechidnopsis (Apocynaceae: Asclepiadoideae). Kew Bulletin 54:327-345.
Bruyns, P.V. 2005. Stapeliads of southern Africa and Madagascar. (Vol. 2, pp. 331-606). Umdaus Press, Pretoria.
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.
Meve, U. and Liede, S. 2002. A molecular phylogeny and generic rearrangement of the stapelioid Ceropegieae (Apocynaceae-Asclepiadoideae). Plant Systematics and Evolution 234(1-4):171-209.
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.
|
Citation |
| von Staden, L. & Van Wyk, P.C.V. 2015. Richtersveldia columnaris (Nel) Meve & Liede. National Assessment: Red List of South African Plants version . Accessed on 2025/05/15 |
Comment on this assessment
