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Scientific Name | Euphorbia melanohydrata Nel |
Higher Classification | Dicotyledons |
Family | EUPHORBIACEAE |
Common Names | Richtersveld Vingerhoedpol (a) |
National Status |
Status and Criteria | Endangered C2a(i) |
Assessment Date | 2015/07/06 |
Assessor(s) | L. von Staden, P.C.V. Van Wyk & S. Todd |
Justification | Only a small population of fewer than 200 mature individuals remain in South Africa, with the largest subpopulation containing about 100 mature individuals, and continues to decline due to ongoing habitat loss and degradation. |
Distribution |
Endemism | Not endemic to South Africa |
Provincial distribution | Northern Cape |
Range | Aurus Mountains in southern Namibia to the lower Gariep Valley between Alexander Bay and Sendelingsdrif, Richtersveld, Northern Cape. |
Habitat and Ecology |
Major system | Terrestrial |
Major habitats | Upper Annisvlakte Succulent Shrubland, Western Gariep Lowland Desert |
Description | Sandy and gravelly plains. |
Threats |
Threatened by ongoing habitat loss and degradation due to mining and infrastructure development across its range in South Africa, and parts of Namibia. Subpopulations in South Africa are also declining due to trampling and erosion as a result of severe overstocking of livestock. |
Population |
This species has a limited range in South Africa, where it has recently declined extensively due to habitat destruction. A small population numbering fewer than 200 individuals remain along a small section of the lower Gariep Valley. The largest subpopulation consists of about 100 mature individuals, while all others have fewer than 10 mature individuals. In Namibia it also has a limited range, and is known from between seven and 14 subpopulations (Loots 2005), and is also declining in places due to habitat destruction.
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Population trend | Decreasing |
Assessment History |
Taxon assessed |
Status and Criteria |
Citation/Red List version | Euphorbia melanohydrata Nel | EN C2a(i) | 2015.1 | Euphorbia melanohydrata Nel | Least Concern | Raimondo et al. (2009) | |
Bibliography |
Loots, S. 2005. Red Data Book of Namibian plants. Southern African Botanical Diversity Network Report 38. SABONET, Pretoria and Windhoek.
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.
Snijman, D.A. 2013. Plants of the Greater Cape Floristic Region 2: The extra Cape flora. Strelitzia 30. South African National Biodiversity Institute, Pretoria.
White, A., Dyer, R.A. and Sloane, B.L. 1941. The succulent Euphorbieae (Southern Africa) Volume I. Abbey Garden Press, Pasadena.
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Citation |
von Staden, L., Van Wyk, P.C.V. & Todd, S. 2015. Euphorbia melanohydrata Nel. National Assessment: Red List of South African Plants version . Accessed on 2025/02/18 |