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Scientific Name | Rhinephyllum broomii L.Bolus |
Higher Classification | Dicotyledons |
Family | AIZOACEAE |
National Status |
Status and Criteria | Data Deficient - Insufficient Information |
Assessment Date | 2019/10/24 |
Assessor(s) | D. Raimondo |
Justification | Rhinephyllum broomii is a poorly known taxon from the central parts of the Karoo Basin. It has been recorded from only three collection localities with an extent of occurrence (EOO) of 5388 km². Only one recent record of this species exists, nothing is known about the current status and trends of the population, it is potentially threatened by livestock overgrazing and trampling and also possibly by future shale gas fracking. Based on currently available data, its risk of extinction cannot be assessed. It therefore qualifies as Data Deficient. |
Distribution |
Endemism | South African endemic |
Provincial distribution | Northern Cape |
Range | This species is endemic to South Africa, and is found from Carnarvon to Fraserburg Road and Beaufort West. |
Habitat and Ecology |
Major system | Terrestrial |
Major habitats | Gamka Karoo |
Description | It occurs on bare stony, gentle slopes, in shale. |
Threats |
Large-scale shale gas fracking was proposed in 2015 for the Karoo basin covering the majority of this species' range. Subpopulations on flats would be most vulnerable to habitat loss to infrastructure development related to fracking, and this species could decline in future if fracking goes ahead. A Strategic Environmental Impact Assessment submitted to South Africa's Department of Environmental Affairs in 2016 cautioned against moving ahead with Shale Gas fracking based on the very high infrastructure costs associated with fracking as well as multiple secondary negative impacts both to biodiversity and other economic activities in the region. Furthermore geological studies that have taken place since 2016 have found that gas deposits are not as substantial as original suspected due to the very old age of the Karoo shale formations and the fact that the extensive number of dolerite intrusions throughout the Karoo have resulted in much of the gas being lost. At present, future development scenarios are too uncertain to estimate the potential extent of the impact on the population but it is unlikely that shale gas fracking will proceed in the near future. |
Population |
Nothing is known about the populations size and current status of Rhinephyllum broomii. There is only one recent record for this species collected from Carnarvon in 2013. This record has no notes on population status or abundance. Other records which predate 1950 are from Fraserburg and Beaufort West.
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Population trend | Stable |
Assessment History |
Taxon assessed |
Status and Criteria |
Citation/Red List version | Rhinephyllum broomii L.Bolus | DDD | 2020.1 | Rhinephyllum broomii L.Bolus | Least Concern | Raimondo et al. (2009) | |
Bibliography |
Magee, A.R. and Boatwright, J.S. (eds). In prep. Plants of the Karoo: A Conspectus of the Nama-Karoo and Adjacent Summer-Rainfall Regions of the Northern and Western Cape Provinces. Strelitzia.
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. 2019. Rhinephyllum broomii L.Bolus. National Assessment: Red List of South African Plants version . Accessed on 2024/11/13 |