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Scientific Name | Mesembryanthemum ladismithiense Klak |
Higher Classification | Dicotyledons |
Family | AIZOACEAE |
Synonyms | Sceletium strictum L.Bolus |
National Status |
Status and Criteria | Endangered B1ab(iii,v)+2ab(iii,v) |
Assessment Date | 2023/06/25 |
Assessor(s) | C. Klak, J.H. Vlok, D. Raimondo, A. Lynch, K. Lynch & N.N. Mhlongo |
Justification | This species has a limited distribution range with an extent of occurrence (EOO) of 1024 km². It is known from five locations, all of which are declining due to habitat degradation caused by grazing and trampling by goats, gemsbok, and ostriches. Additionally, it is potentially threatened by illegal harvesting for horticultural purposes. It therefore qualifies as Endangered under criterion B. |
Distribution |
Endemism | South African endemic |
Provincial distribution | Western Cape |
Range | This species is endemic to the Western Cape Province of South Africa, where it occurs in the Ladismith district. |
Habitat and Ecology |
Major system | Terrestrial |
Major habitats | Western Little Karoo, Eastern Little Karoo |
Description | Plants are found on rock outcrops in arid succulent karoo vegetation. |
Threats |
| It is threatened by ongoing degradation of habitat due to grazing and trampling by goats, gemsbok and ostriches. It is also potentially threatened by illegal harvesting. |
Population |
A rare and localized species which was previously known from only five subpopulations; however, recent monitoring on the iNaturalist platform indicates the existence of between five and ten subpopulations distributed across five locations. Data are available for one subpopulation, revealing that subpopulations can be small, with between 100 and 250 mature individuals present. The population is inferred to be declining due to ongoing habitat degradation and possibly illegal harvesting.
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Population trend | Decreasing |
Conservation |
| It is not currently conserved in any formally protected area. |
Assessment History |
Taxon assessed |
Status and Criteria |
Citation/Red List version | | Sceletium strictum L.Bolus | EN B1ab(iii,v)+2ab(iii,v) | Raimondo et al. (2009) | |
Bibliography |
Goldblatt, P. and Manning, J.C. 2000. Cape Plants: A conspectus of the Cape Flora of South Africa. Strelitzia 9. National Botanical Institute, Cape Town.
Klak, C., Bruyns, P.V. and Hedderson, T.A.J. 2007. A phylogeny and new classification for Mesembryanthemoideae (Aizoaceae). Taxon 56(3):737-756.
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.
Vlok, J. and Schutte-Vlok, A.L. 2010. Plants of the Klein Karoo. Umdaus Press, Hatfield.
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Citation |
| Klak, C., Vlok, J.H., Raimondo, D., Lynch, A., Lynch, K. & Mhlongo, N.N. 2023. Mesembryanthemum ladismithiense Klak. National Assessment: Red List of South African Plants version . Accessed on 2025/04/13 |
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