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Scientific Name | Cheiridopsis acuminata L.Bolus |
Higher Classification | Dicotyledons |
Family | AIZOACEAE |
Synonyms | Cheiridopsis carinata L.Bolus |
National Status |
Status and Criteria | Near Threatened B1ab(iii,v)+2ab(iii,v) |
Assessment Date | 2015/06/17 |
Assessor(s) | D. Raimondo & P.C.V. Van Wyk |
Justification | A range-restricted (EOO 552 km²), but still fairly common species, estimated to occur at between 10 and 20 locations. It is declining due to overgrazing in parts of its range, while subpopulations in the mountains are currently stable. These may however decline in future if grazing pressure in more remote areas were to increase. |
Distribution |
Endemism | South African endemic |
Provincial distribution | Northern Cape |
Range | Central mountains of the Richtersveld. |
Habitat and Ecology |
Major system | Terrestrial |
Major habitats | Central Richtersveld Mountain Shrubland, Stinkfonteinberge Quartzite Fynbos |
Description | Quartzite flats or slopes. |
Threats |
| Subpopulations on lowland flats are threatened by livestock overgrazing and trampling. More than half of the recorded collections of this species are from severely overgrazed areas. Subpopulations on upper slopes and more remote mountainous areas are not currently threatened, as grazing pressure is still low. However, as rangelands on the plains and areas closer to settlements are increasingly degraded, herders are having to move their livestock into ever more remote places in search of grazing, and grazing pressure may increase in these mountainous areas in future. |
Population |
This species is still quite common on the upper slopes and remote parts of the Vandersterrberg and Stinkfontein mountains. It is much rarer on lowland quartz flats, where it is suspected to have been more common in the past, but subpopulations in these areas are now small and declining. It is known from four locations, but as much of its range within the central mountains of the Richtersveld is difficult to access and therefore poorly explored, it is very likely that there are more than 10 locations.
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Population trend | Decreasing |
Assessment History |
Taxon assessed |
Status and Criteria |
Citation/Red List version | | Cheiridopsis acuminata L.Bolus | NT B1ab(iii,v)+2ab(iii,v) | 2015.1 | | Cheiridopsis acuminata L.Bolus | Least Concern | Raimondo et al. (2009) | |
Bibliography |
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.
Snijman, D.A. 2013. Plants of the Greater Cape Floristic Region 2: The extra Cape flora. Strelitzia 30. South African National Biodiversity Institute, Pretoria.
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Citation |
| Raimondo, D. & Van Wyk, P.C.V. 2015. Cheiridopsis acuminata L.Bolus. National Assessment: Red List of South African Plants version . Accessed on 2025/04/18 |
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