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Scientific Name | Acanthopsis glandulopalmata H.M.Steyn |
Higher Classification | Dicotyledons |
Family | ACANTHACEAE |
National Status |
Status and Criteria | Endangered B1ab(iii) |
Assessment Date | 2022/09/30 |
Assessor(s) | L. von Staden & H.M. Steyn |
Justification | This species has a restricted distribution range (EOO 1954 km²), and is known from three widely scattered locations. It is threatened in all known locations. However, the estimate of the number of locations is highly uncertain, and it may be under-sampled and more common than records suggest. The threats affecting this species, particularly overgrazing in the Richtersveld, are likely to affect most areas with suitable habitat, and therefore it is suspected to be threatened across its range. It is therefore assessed as Endangered based on precautionary principles, but may need to be downlisted in future if further field surveys indicate that there are more than five locations. |
Distribution |
Endemism | South African endemic |
Provincial distribution | Northern Cape |
Range | It occurs in the southern Richtersveld to the Namaqualand coastal plain inland of Kleinsee. |
Habitat and Ecology |
Major system | Terrestrial |
Major habitats | Umdaus Mountains Succulent Shrubland, Anenous Plateau Shrubland, Central Richtersveld Mountain Shrubland, Namaqualand Heuweltjieveld |
Description | Plants grow on quartz pebble plains with well-drained sandy soils, 120-700 m. |
Threats |
| One location is threatened by habitat loss due to mining and prospecting, while two other locations in the Richtersveld are likely to be threatened by overgrazing. Communal rangelands are heavily overstocked with livestock, leading to ongoing degradation of natural vegetation, including a loss of shrub cover and plant species diversity, as well as topsoil erosion. It may exist at a few more locations, but it is likely to face similar threats elsewhere. Between 2015 and 2022, a severe drought led to a drastic drop in livestock numbers, but they have been increasing since good rains in 2023. The impact of the drought on populations remains unknown. |
Population |
This species is known from four widely scattered subpopulations. It is a localized habitat specialist, but is also likely to be under-sampled as it occurs in a remote and botanically still relatively poorly explored area. The population is likely to be declining at all known locations, but these may be a significant underestimate of the number of existing locations. Further field surveys are needed to gain a better understanding of the population structure and abundance of this species.
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Population trend | Decreasing |
Assessment History |
Taxon assessed |
Status and Criteria |
Citation/Red List version | | Acanthopsis glandulopalmata H.M.Steyn | EN B1ab(iii) | 2020.1 | |
Bibliography |
Steyn, H.M. and Van Wyk, A.E. 2017. Taxonomic notes on Acanthopsis (Acanthaceae, tribe Acantheae): the group with semi-dense spikes and 5-fid bracts. Phytotaxa 324(2):101-121.
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Citation |
| von Staden, L. & Steyn, H.M. 2022. Acanthopsis glandulopalmata H.M.Steyn. National Assessment: Red List of South African Plants version . Accessed on 2024/10/08 |
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