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Scientific Name | Lithops herrei L.Bolus |
Higher Classification | Dicotyledons |
Family | AIZOACEAE |
Synonyms | Lithops herrei L.Bolus var. plena L.Bolus, Lithops translucens L.Bolus |
National Status |
Status and Criteria | Vulnerable B1ab(iii,v) |
Assessment Date | 2019/03/05 |
Assessor(s) | L. von Staden |
Justification | A range-restricted Richtersveld endemic, known from fewer than 10 locations and declining due to habitat loss and degradation as well as succulent collecting. It therefore qualifies as Vulnerable under criterion B. |
Distribution |
Endemism | Not endemic to South Africa |
Provincial distribution | Northern Cape |
Range | This species is found in the Lower Gariep Valley in South Africa and Namibia. |
Habitat and Ecology |
Major system | Terrestrial |
Major habitats | Western Gariep Hills Desert, Western Gariep Lowland Desert, Western Gariep Plains Desert, Southern Nababiepsberge Mountain Desert |
Description | Plants grow on rocky schist, quartzite, gneiss or calcrete outcrops. |
Threats |
| The subpopulation at Alexander Bay has been completely cleared out by succulent collectors (P.C.V. van Wyk pers. obs. 2014). Subpopulations around Sendelingsdrift are threatened by mining, particularly dust blowing from mine dumps that are burying dwarf succulents for several kilometres around mines. |
Population |
The population is declining due to succulent collecting and habitat degradation, but the species is still fairly common in the Richtersveld (P.C.V. van Wyk pers. comm.). The population in Namibia is also threatened by habitat loss to mining (S. Loots pers. comm.).
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Population trend | Decreasing |
Assessment History |
Taxon assessed |
Status and Criteria |
Citation/Red List version | | Lithops herrei L.Bolus | VU B1ab(iii,v) | 2020.1 | | Lithops herrei L.Bolus | Least Concern | Raimondo et al. (2009) | |
Bibliography |
Bolus, H.M.L. 1928-1935. Notes on Mesembrianthemum and allied genera. Part II. Bolus Herbarium, University of Cape Town, Cape Town.
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.
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Citation |
| von Staden, L. 2019. Lithops herrei L.Bolus. National Assessment: Red List of South African Plants version . Accessed on 2025/01/17 |
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