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Scientific Name | Conophytum irmae S.A.Hammer & Barnhill |
Higher Classification | Dicotyledons |
Family | AIZOACEAE |
National Status |
Status and Criteria | Critically Endangered A4c; B1ab(iii,v) |
Assessment Date | 2021/11/25 |
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 where it is only recorded from a single location with an extent of occurrence (EOO) and area of occupancy (AOO) of 16 km². The habitat of this species is currently declining as a result of extended drought conditions. The dwarf succulents that comprise this genus have been increasingly targeted by illegal collection in recent years and the vast majority of species are in high demand by collectors. This species is already declining due to illegal collection. Given its single location and small number of mature individuals (probably no more than 2,500 mature individuals) the ongoing threat of illegal collection is regarded as very high for this particular species. A complete decline of up to 100% of the population is likely within the next 10 years. While climate change is also highly likely to impact this taxon the rapid declines to the population as a result of illegal collection means it qualifies as Critically Endangered under criteria A4 and B1. |
Distribution |
Endemism | South African endemic |
Provincial distribution | Northern Cape |
Range | This species is endemic to a small part of the Northern Cape province of South Africa where it is only found in a single location with a restricted geographic range. |
Habitat and Ecology |
Major system | Terrestrial |
Major habitats | Namaqualand Klipkoppe Shrubland, Anenous Plateau Shrubland |
Description | This species is only found in the Richtersveld and Namaqualand Hardeveld bioregions of the Succulent Karoo biome. The plants are only known from a small area where they inhabit quartz boulders or in pans of evenly graded detritus. 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 particular species has experienced illegal collection in 2019 and it is likely to be further targeted in coming years as there has been a dramatic increase in the number of species and volume of plants of this genus targeted during the past three years. Related species within the immediate area have experienced severe declines in population number due to illegal collection. The single location and small population size makes the species highly susceptible to collection.
Loss of vegetation cover has been observed at this site via Landsat imagery between 1984 and 2018 indicating a decline in habitat quality. While it is not possible to model the response of this species to climate change due to its restricted distribution, the average loss to climate change for 15 more widely distributed Conophytum species occurring within the same region is used as an indication of likely impact 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 72% and 99% by 2080 for Conophytum taxa within the region. Species in this genus have limited dispersal ability and migration to suitable habitats elsewhere is regarded as highly unlikely. |
Population |
This highly localised dwarf succulent is only known from a single location where the population is likely to consist of no more than 2,500 mature individuals. There has been one recorded incident of illegal collection in 2019 and the population is thus declining due to collection as well as due to an extended drought that has impacted its habitat between 2016 and 2021.
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Population trend | Decreasing |
Assessment History |
Taxon assessed |
Status and Criteria |
Citation/Red List version | | Conophytum irmae S.A.Hammer & Barnhill | EN B1ab(v)+2ab(v) | 2020.1 | | Conophytum irmae S.A.Hammer & Barnhill | Rare | 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 irmae S.A.Hammer & Barnhill. National Assessment: Red List of South African Plants version . Accessed on 2025/04/13 |
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