A rare, range-restricted species, thought to be extinct until a few small subpopulations were recently discovered on the Cape Flats and Cape Peninsula. Its current Extent of Occurrence is 365 km², and four remaining locations are known. The population of less than 500 mature individuals consists of small subpopulations, numbering fewer than 200 mature individuals, and continues to decline due to ongoing habitat loss and degradation, and competition from alien invasive plants.
Urban expansion and crop cultivation is likely to have caused the loss of all historically known subpopulations of this species. A recently discovered subpopulation is protected within the Table Mountain National Park, however, careful management of tracks around the population is required to prevent habitat loss to erosion. Other remaining subpopulations discovered in the past two years are threatened by ongoing habitat loss and degradation due to urban expansion and competition from dense, unmanaged infestations of alien invasive plants.
Population
Recent field surveys confirmed the existence of four subpopulations, the largest consisting of about 200 plants. All known subpopulations are small, and it is estimated that the population numbers fewer than 500 mature individuals, and continues to decline.
Population trend
Decreasing
Assessment History
Taxon assessed
Status and Criteria
Citation/Red List version
Adenogramma rigida (Bartl.) Sond.
Critically Endangered (Possibly Extinct)
Raimondo et al. (2009)
Bibliography
Adamson, R.S. 1955. The South African species of Aizoaceae I. Adenogramma and Polpoda. Journal of South African Botany 21:83-95.
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.
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.
Citation
Helme, N.A., Raimondo, D. & von Staden, L. 2015. Adenogramma rigida (Bartl.) Sond. National Assessment: Red List of South African Plants version . Accessed on 2025/04/18
Comment on this assessment
