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Scientific Name | Euphorbia meloformis Aiton |
Higher Classification | Dicotyledons |
Family | EUPHORBIACEAE |
Synonyms | Euphorbia falsa N.E.Br., Euphorbia infausta N.E.Br. (1915), not of N.E.Br. (1912), Euphorbia meloformis Aiton subsp. meloformis forma falsa (N.E.Br.) Marx, Euphorbia meloformis Aiton subsp. meloformis forma magna R.A.Dyer ex Marx, Euphorbia meloformis Aiton subsp. valida (N.E.Br.) G.D.Rowley, Euphorbia meloformis Aiton var. pomiformis (Thunb.) Marloth, Euphorbia meloformis Aiton var. prolifera Frick, Euphorbia pomiformis Thunb., Euphorbia pyriformis N.E.Br., Euphorbia valida N.E.Br. |
Common Names | Bobbejaankos (a), Eselkos (a), Eselpol (a), Pol (a), Skilpadkos (a) |
National Status |
Status and Criteria | Near Threatened B1b(ii,iii,iv,v)+2b(ii,iii,iv,v) |
Assessment Date | 2022/05/06 |
Assessor(s) | D. Raimondo, A.P. Dold, W. Berrington, R.H. Archer, J.E. Victor, L. von Staden & N.N. Mhlongo |
Justification | This species has a limited distribution with an extent of occurrence (EOO) of 4696 km² and an area of occupancy of 52 km². It is known from 12 locations and the population is experiencing a continuing decline due to urban expansion, removal of mature individuals from the wild by succulent collectors, and habitat degradation as a result of overgrazing and poor rangeland management. With the population declining but with more than 10 locations extant it almost reaches the threshold for listing as Vulnerable under criterion B and is assessed as Near Threatened. |
Distribution |
Endemism | South African endemic |
Provincial distribution | Eastern Cape |
Range | This species is endemic to the Eastern Cape province of South Africa, where it occurs in Waterford, Uitenhage and Port Elizabeth to east of Peddie. |
Habitat and Ecology |
Major system | Terrestrial |
Major habitats | Bhisho Thornveld, Sundays Valley Thicket, Motherwell Karroid Thicket, Grass Ridge Bontveld, Grahamstown Grassland Thicket, Albany Bontveld |
Description | Plants are found in between stones and low bushes on gentle gravelly slopes on in flats. |
Threats |
| Subpopulations around Port Elizabeth and Uitenhage have severely declined in the past. Currently, only two small subpopulations remain in an area bordering a large expanding informal settlement, which is also earmarked for industrial development (D. Raimondo, W. Berrington pers. obs.). A third subpopulation (with three stands) was recorded near Grahamstown between 2016 and 2021.
This species is highly popular among succulent enthusiasts, and the removal of plants from the wild for succulent collections is contributing to a decline across most of its range. Habitat degradation, resulting from overgrazing and poor veld management, poses a threat to subpopulations in the Peddie area (AP Dold pers. Comm.). |
Population |
It is common south of its range near Grahamstown but has been greatly reduced between Port Elizabeth and Uitenhage due to new industrial areas and township development (Bruyns, 2022). No population data are available for this species, though it is suspected to be in decline due to urban expansion, habitat degradation, and illegal collection.
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Population trend | Decreasing |
Assessment History |
Taxon assessed |
Status and Criteria |
Citation/Red List version | | Euphorbia meloformis Aiton | NT B1ab(i,ii,iii,iv,v) | 2014.1 | | Euphorbia meloformis Aiton subsp. meloformis | NT B1ab(i,ii,iii,iv,v) | Raimondo et al. (2009) | | Euphorbia meloformis Aiton subsp. valida (N.E.Br.) G.D.Rowley | NT B1ab(v) | Raimondo et al. (2009) | | Euphorbia valida N.E.Br. | Vulnerable | Hilton-Taylor (1996) | | Euphorbia meloformis Aiton subsp. meloformis | Vulnerable/Endangered | Hilton-Taylor (1996) | |
Bibliography |
Bruyns, P.V. 2012. Nomenclature and typification of southern African species of Euphorbia. Bothalia 42(2):217-245.
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.
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Citation |
| Raimondo, D., Dold, A.P., Berrington, W., Archer, R.H., Victor, J.E., von Staden, L. & Mhlongo, N.N. 2022. Euphorbia meloformis Aiton. National Assessment: Red List of South African Plants version . Accessed on 2025/05/18 |
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