| Scientific Name | Conophytum minimum (Haw.) N.E.Br. | Higher Classification | Dicotyledons | Family | AIZOACEAE | Synonyms | Conophytum albifissum Tischer, Conophytum batesii N.E.Br., Conophytum brevilineatum Tischer, Conophytum candelabriforme de Boer in hort., Conophytum dedicatum N.E.Br. in hort., Conophytum labyrintheum (N.E.Br.) N.E.Br., Conophytum leviculum (N.E.Br.) N.E.Br., Conophytum literatum N.E.Br., Conophytum notatum N.E.Br., Conophytum obmetale (N.E.Br.) N.E.Br., Conophytum parcum N.E.Br. on drawing at K!, Conophytum pauxillum (N.E.Br.) N.E.Br., Conophytum perpusillum (Haw.) N.E.Br., Conophytum petraeum N.E.Br., Conophytum pictum (N.E.Br.) N.E.Br., Conophytum polulum N.E.Br., Conophytum praecinctum N.E.Br., Conophytum pusillum (N.E.Br.) N.E.Br., Conophytum radiatum Tischer, Conophytum roseolineatum Tischer in hort., Conophytum scitulum (N.E.Br.) N.E.Br., Conophytum signatum (N.E.Br.) N.E.Br., Conophytum vagum N.E.Br., Conophytum wittebergense de Boer, Mesembryanthemum glebula Schwantes, Mesembryanthemum labyrintheum N.E.Br., Mesembryanthemum leviculum N.E.Br., Mesembryanthemum minimum Haw., Mesembryanthemum obmetale N.E.Br., Mesembryanthemum pauxillum N.E.Br., Mesembryanthemum perpusillum Haw., Mesembryanthemum pictum N.E.Br., Mesembryanthemum pusillum N.E.Br., Mesembryanthemum scitulum N.E.Br., Mesembryanthemum signatum N.E.Br. |
National Status | Status and Criteria | Endangered A3c | Assessment Date | 2021/11/30 | 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 species is endemic to the Western Cape of South Africa, with an extent of occurrence (EOO) 5,310 km2, and an area of occupancy (AOO) of 80 km2. There is escalating illegal collection of this species which is contributing to an ongoing decline of the population. Furthermore species within the genus Conophytum are susceptible to climate change, with models predicting a complete 100% loss of suitable bioclimatic habitat by 2080 for this species under likely emission scenario RCP 2.6. There has, however, been no observed drought related mortality or loss of vegetation cover where this species is found and as it occurs across several vegetation units it is expected to have a level of resilience to climate change. Thus while model predictions place this species in the category Critically Endangered under criterion A3, the uncertainty of the response given the expected resilience of this species means the population reduction has been reduced. An overall population decline of 70% of the population is suspected within the next three generations (90 years). This succulent therefore qualifies as Endangered under criterion A3. |
Distribution | Endemism | South African endemic | Provincial distribution | Western Cape | Range | This species is endemic to the Western Cape of South Africa. |
Habitat and Ecology | Major system | Terrestrial | Major habitats | Fynbos, Succulent Karoo | Description | This species is present in both Succulent Karoo and Fynbos biomes: Rainshadow Valley Karoo, Quartzite Fynbos, Sandstone Fynbos and Shale Renosterveld bioregions. It is primarily found growing in shallow sandy grit pans and in cracks and crevices on often large expanses of weathered sandstone. 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 condition, is dependent on the limited but 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 and the population is in decline as a result. 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. As a result a population decline of 25-40% is suspected over three generations (90 years).
There is no decline in habitat quality for this species as inferred by changes in vegetation cover determined from changes in Enhanced Vegetation Index (EVI) between 1984 and 2018 using Landsat data (Venter et al. 2020).
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 complete loss of suitable bioclimatic envelope of 100% by 2080 for this species. However, as there has been no loss of vegetation cover observed within this species range, and it occurs across several vegetation units it is expected to have a level of resilience to climate change and the expected population loss is reduced by 30% to 70%. |
Population | It is locally abundant within its range. The overall population is estimated to be well in excess of 250,000 mature individuals. There is evidence of initial levels of population decline due to illegal collection for the international horticultural trade.
| Population trend | Decreasing |
Assessment History |
Taxon assessed |
Status and Criteria |
Citation/Red List version | | Conophytum minimum (Haw.) N.E.Br. | 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 minimum (Haw.) N.E.Br. National Assessment: Red List of South African Plants version . Accessed on 2025/04/29 |
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