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Scientific Name | Pelargonium crassicaule L'Hér. |
Higher Classification | Dicotyledons |
Family | GERANIACEAE |
Synonyms | Pelargonium mirabile Dinter |
National Status |
Status and Criteria | Endangered A3de+4ade |
Assessment Date | 2022/07/04 |
Assessor(s) | N.N. Mhlongo, D. Raimondo, P.C.V. Van Wyk & N.A. Helme |
Justification | This species' population is declining rapidly as a result of drought, illegal collection for the ornamental horticultural trade, and habitat loss due to mining. A total of 40% of the population has been lost since the year 1990 and a further 50% is likely to be lost by the year 2080, generation length 50-100 years. It is therefore listed as Endangered under criterion A4. This species also occurs in Namibia however the subpopulations there are also suspected to be declining due to the same pressures. The regional status is therefore not downgraded. |
Distribution |
Endemism | Not endemic to South Africa |
Provincial distribution | Northern Cape |
Range | This species is distributed from Lüderitz in southern Namibia to the lower Gariep Valley between Alexander Bay and Sendelingsdrif in South Africa. |
Habitat and Ecology |
Major system | Terrestrial |
Major habitats | Desert |
Description | Plants grow on crevices in rocky outcrops on coastal flats. |
Threats |
| The population is declining rapidly with over 40% of the overall population being lost to the impacts of the worst recorded drought on record. Below average rain started in 2012 and the drought is still ongoing at the time of assessment. Further ongoing aridification and temperature increases are predicted for the next 50 years as a result of climate change (Van Wilgen et al. 2017). This species is also declining due to illegal collection, with over 373 plants included in confiscations between March 2019 and December 2021. Many more are likely to have been removed from the wild but not intercepted by law enforcement efforts. Additionally, more than 8000 plants, likely to have been wild harvested, were exported from South Africa between 2011 and 2018. A large number of plants seen in private collections and for sale on the internet are wild plants. A large proportion of the lower Gariep Valley is irreversibly modified as a result of destructive open cast mining, and a number of subpopulations have been lost due to mining. Loss due to mining is ongoing. Planned green hydrogen mining projects in Nambia and South Africa will lead to further loss of habitat for this species. |
Population |
This species has a restricted range in South Africa, but it is fairly common in this area. The South African population is continuous with Namibia, where this species is more widespread and common. The population is declining rapidly as a result of drought, illegal collection to supply the ornamental horticulture trade and habitat loss due to mining. In South Africa, more than 40% of the population has been lost since 1990, with a further loss of 50% decline suspected to take place by 2080 (generation length 50 years). This translates to an overall population decline of 20% since 1990 and a further 30% expected by 2080.
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Population trend | Decreasing |
Assessment History |
Taxon assessed |
Status and Criteria |
Citation/Red List version | | Pelargonium crassicaule L'Hér. | 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.
Van der Walt, J.J.A. and Vorster, P.J. 1981. Pelargoniums of southern Africa (Vol. II). Juta, Cape Town.
Van Wilgen, N.J. and Herbst, M. 2017. Taking stock of parks in a changing world: The SANParks Global Environmental Change Assessment. SANParks, Cape Town.
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Citation |
| Mhlongo, N.N., Raimondo, D., Van Wyk, P.C.V. & Helme, N.A. 2022. Pelargonium crassicaule L'Hér. National Assessment: Red List of South African Plants version . Accessed on 2025/04/13 |
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