| Scientific Name | Conophytum minusculum (N.E.Br.) N.E.Br. subsp. aestiflorens S.A.Hammer & T.Smale | Higher Classification | Dicotyledons | Family | AIZOACEAE |
National Status | Status and Criteria | Critically Endangered A4d | 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 succulent is endemic to the Western Cape of South Africa with an extent of occurrence (EOO) of 347 km2 and area of occupancy (AOO) of 28 km2. The population is in decline due to the collection for the illegal ornamental succulent plant trade, with collection pressures likely to increase. The continued threat of illegal collection is therefore regarded as high for this particular taxon. A decline of between 80 and 90% of the population is suspected within the next three generations (60 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 criterion A4. |
Distribution | Endemism | South African endemic | Provincial distribution | Western Cape | Range | This succulent is endemic to the Cederberg in the Western Cape of South Africa. |
Habitat and Ecology | Major system | Terrestrial | Major habitats | Swartruggens Quartzite Fynbos | Description | This succulent is restricted to the Fynbos biome where it is endemic to Swartruggens Quartzite Fynbos. It is predominantly found on weathered quartzitic sandstone amongst moss and lichen or in shallow sandy-grit filled depressions. This taxon has a generation length of 20 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 taxon is currently threatened by illegal collection for the international trade in ornamental succulents and the population is in decline. 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. This taxon is only known from five locations and is believed to have a relatively small population size, making it vulnerable to illegal collection. As a result a population decline of 80-90% is suspected over three generations (60 years).
Anthropogenic climate change is a long-term threat to this taxon. There is no decline yet in habitat quality for this plant 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). 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 48% and 57% by 2080 for this taxon. Species in this genus have limited dispersal ability and migration to suitable habitats elsewhere is regarded as highly unlikely. |
Population | It is only known from five subpopulations where the plants may be locally abundant. The area is remote and relatively poorly explored so further undiscovered subpopulations are likely. There are no formal estimates of population size but it is likely to consist of between 5,000 and 15,000 mature individuals. The population is experiencing initial levels of decline due to illegal collection for the ornamental succulent plant trade.
| Population trend | Decreasing |
Assessment History |
Taxon assessed |
Status and Criteria |
Citation/Red List version | | Conophytum minusculum (N.E.Br.) N.E.Br. subsp. aestiflorens S.A.Hammer & T.Smale | Critically Rare | 2017.1 | | Conophytum minusculum (N.E.Br.) N.E.Br. subsp. aestiflorens S.A.Hammer & T.Smale | 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.
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 minusculum (N.E.Br.) N.E.Br. subsp. aestiflorens S.A.Hammer & T.Smale. National Assessment: Red List of South African Plants version . Accessed on 2025/04/20 |
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