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Scientific Name | Schlechteranthus maximilianii Schwantes |
Higher Classification | Dicotyledons |
Family | AIZOACEAE |
National Status |
Status and Criteria | Vulnerable D2 |
Assessment Date | 2016/10/25 |
Assessor(s) | L. von Staden |
Justification | A localized, range-restricted species (EOO 213 km²), occurring at three to five locations, and potentially threatened by habitat loss to mining and overgrazing. |
Distribution |
Endemism | South African endemic |
Provincial distribution | Northern Cape |
Range | Southern Richtersveld, Lekkersing to Port Nolloth. |
Habitat and Ecology |
Major system | Terrestrial |
Major habitats | Vyftienmyl se Berge Succulent Shrubland, Lekkersing Succulent Shrubland, Central Richtersveld Mountain Shrubland |
Description | Stony, quartzitic slopes, 270-400 m. |
Threats |
| The most severe threat to plant species in the Richtersveld is widespread habitat degradation due to overstocking of communal rangelands. In many accessible areas, such as plains and lower mountain slopes close to settlements, overgrazing has caused a significant loss of species diversity and shrub cover. Succulent shrublands in the northern part of this species' range around Lekkersing is severely degraded due to overgrazing. This species is not browsed, and its preference for rocky slopes provides it some protection against the effects of trampling and erosion. A subpopulation on Vyftienmyl-se-Berg is protected from grazing. Another potential threat to this species is habitat loss to mining - at least one subpopulation has been recorded near a mining area, and could decline, should the mine expand. |
Population |
S. maximilianii is a highly range-restricted species, and is localized to quartz outcrops, where it is occasional to locally common.
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Population trend | Stable |
Citation |
| von Staden, L. 2016. Schlechteranthus maximilianii Schwantes. National Assessment: Red List of South African Plants version 2017.1. Accessed on 2020/04/06 |
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