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Scientific Name | Conophytum fulleri L.Bolus |
Higher Classification | Dicotyledons |
Family | AIZOACEAE |
Synonyms | Conophytum wiesemannianum Schwantes |
National Status |
Status and Criteria | Endangered A4cd |
Assessment Date | 2021/11/23 |
Assessor(s) | A.J. Young, P.G. Desmet, I. Ebrahim, D. Guo, A. Harrower, L. Jabar, L. Knoetze, C. Rodgerson, P.C.V. Van Wyk & N.N. Mhlongo |
Justification | This succulent is endemic to the Northern Cape province of South Africa with an extent of occurrence (EOO) of 1,653 km² and area of occupancy (AOO) of 92 km². The population is in decline due to the illegal ornamental succulent plant trade, with collection likely to increase as there has been a dramatic increase in the number of species and volume of plants targeted since 2019. The continued threat of illegal collection is therefore regarded as very high for this particular species and this is suspected to result in a decline of 50-75% of the population within the next three generations (90 years). Climate change is predicted to also cause minor levels of population decline with 7% loss predicted by the year 2080. It therefore qualifies as Endangered under criterion A4. |
Distribution |
Endemism | South African endemic |
Provincial distribution | Northern Cape |
Range | This species is endemic to the Bushmanland region of the Northern Cape province of South Africa. |
Habitat and Ecology |
Major system | Terrestrial |
Major habitats | Desert, Nama Karoo, Succulent Karoo |
Description | This species is found in the Succulent Karoo, Nama-Karoo and Desert biomes where it occurs in Richtersveld, Gariep Desert, Bushmanland and Western Griqualand bioregions. Plants are primarily associated with patches of broken quartz and in the cracks and crevices on larger quartz boulders. This species has a generation length of 30 years. It is expected to be sensitive to the impacts of climate change as it does not disperse and while adapted to arid conditions, is dependent on limited seasonal rainfall. Species in the genus are sensitive to long periods of drought. Drought related mortality has been observed for other closely related taxa within the genus. |
Threats |
| This species is currently threatened by illegal collection for the international trade in ornamental succulents with almost 1,000 mature individuals being confiscated from poachers since 2019. This is likely to increase in future as there has been a dramatic increase in the number of species and volume of plants targeted since 2019. Anthropogenic climate change is a long-term threat to this species. Climate models for the likely emission scenarios where emissions stay at present day levels (RCP 2.6) (Hausfather and Peters 2020) and worst case scenarios where emissions continue to increase during the 21st century (RCP 8.5) indicate that there will be a loss of suitable bioclimatic envelope of between 27% and 95% by 2080 for this species. However, as this taxon occurs in a sheltered habitat and is found across several vegetation units it is expected to have a level of resilience to climate change and the expected population loss is reduced by 20% to 7%. Species in this genus have limited dispersal ability and migration to suitable habitats elsewhere is regarded as highly unlikely. |
Population |
There are no formal estimates of population size for this species but the number of mature individuals is suspected to be between 10,000 and 20,000. The population is in decline due to illegal collection for the ornamental succulent plant trade. Almost 1,000 plants have been removed from habitat between 2019 and the end of 2021 based on confiscation records, with many more having likely been removed but not intercepted by law enforcers.
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Population trend | Decreasing |
Assessment History |
Taxon assessed |
Status and Criteria |
Citation/Red List version | | Conophytum fulleri L.Bolus | Least Concern | Raimondo et al. (2009) | |
Bibliography |
Hammer, S. 2002. Dumpling and his wife: New view of the genus Conophytum. EAE Creative Colour, Norwich.
Hammer, S.A. 1993. The genus Conophytum: A conograph. Succulent Plant Publications, Pretoria.
Hausfather, Z. and Peters, G.P. 2020. Emissions - the 'business as usual' story is misleading. Nature 577(618-620).
Opel, M.R. 2004. The rediscovery of Crassula alcicornis. Haseltonia 10:38-40.
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Citation |
| Young, A.J., Desmet, P.G., Ebrahim, I., Guo, D., Harrower, A., Jabar, L., Knoetze, L., Rodgerson, C., Van Wyk, P.C.V. & Mhlongo, N.N. 2021. Conophytum fulleri L.Bolus. National Assessment: Red List of South African Plants version . Accessed on 2025/04/13 |
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