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Scientific Name | Haworthiopsis woolleyi (Poelln.) G.D.Rowley |
Higher Classification | Monocotyledons |
Family | ASPHODELACEAE |
Synonyms | Haworthia venosa (Lam.) Haw. subsp. woolleyi (Poelln.) Halda, Haworthia woolleyi Poelln. |
National Status |
Status and Criteria | Critically Endangered B1ab(iii,v)+2ab(iii,v); D |
Assessment Date | 2022/05/18 |
Assessor(s) | N.A. Helme, L. von Staden & N.N. Mhlongo |
Justification | A very rare and localised species, known from one location with an extent of occurrence (EOO) and area of occupancy (AOO) of less than 10 km². It is estimated to have less than 50 plants and is declining due to ongoing habitat degradation as a result of overgrazing and trampling and the illegal removal of mature individuals from the wild for the succulent trade. It therefore qualifies as Critically Endangered under criteria B and D. |
Distribution |
Endemism | South African endemic |
Provincial distribution | Eastern Cape |
Range | This species is endemic to the Western Cape Province, South Africa, where it occurs in the Steytlerville district. |
Habitat and Ecology |
Major system | Terrestrial |
Major habitats | Steytlerville Karoo |
Description | Plants grow in stony shale, hidden amongst bushes. |
Threats |
| There are still very few records for this species, and this may reflect rarity or the general lack of systematic and conscientious recording. The subpopulation known by Bayer in 1980 has been destroyed by habitat degradation due to overgrazing, but plants are also likely to have been eradicated by collectors (Bayer 1999). The collection of this rare species for the specialist succulent trade is an ongoing threat. This species is slow-growing and difficult to cultivate (Bayer 1982). |
Population |
The population size is estimated to be less than 50 plants from a single location. The population trend is inferred to be declining due to illegal collection and ongoing habitat degradation.
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Population trend | Decreasing |
Assessment History |
Taxon assessed |
Status and Criteria |
Citation/Red List version | | Haworthiopsis woolleyi (Poelln.) G.D.Rowley | CR B1ab(iii,v)+2ab(iii,v) | 2014.1 | | Haworthia venosa (Lam.) Haw. subsp. woolleyi (Poelln.) Halda | Critically Endangered (Possibly Extinct) | Raimondo et al. (2009) | | Haworthia woolleyi Poelln. | Vulnerable | Hilton-Taylor (1996) | |
Bibliography |
Bayer, M.B. 1982. The new Haworthia handbook. National Botanical Gardens of South Africa.
Bayer, M.B. 1999. Haworthia Revisited: A revision of the genus. Umdaus Press, Hatfield.
Bayer, M.B. and Manning, J.C. 2012 (Updated online 2013). The Haworthia nomenclator: A list of accepted species with some guidelines for infraspecific names. Haworthia Update 7(4):30-40.
Hilton-Taylor, C. 1996. Red data list of southern African plants. Strelitzia 4. South African National Botanical 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.
Rowley, G.D. 2013. Generic concepts in the Alooideae. Part 3 - The phylogenetic story. Alsterworthia International Special Issue 10:1-6.
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Citation |
| Helme, N.A., von Staden, L. & Mhlongo, N.N. 2022. Haworthiopsis woolleyi (Poelln.) G.D.Rowley. National Assessment: Red List of South African Plants version . Accessed on 2025/05/29 |
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