Taxonomy
Scientific Name
Tromotriche herrei (Nel) Bruyns
Higher Classification
Dicotyledons
Family
APOCYNACEAE
Synonyms
Stapelia herrei Nel, Stapelia neliana A.C.White & B.Sloane, Tridentea herrei (Nel) L.C.Leach
National Status
Status and Criteria
Near Threatened D2
Assessment Date
2015/06/04
Assessor(s)
D. Raimondo & L. von Staden
Justification
A rare, localized species, occurring at between six and eight locations and potentially threatened by habitat degradation due to overgrazing.
Distribution
Endemism
South African endemic
Provincial distribution
Northern Cape
Range
Richtersveld, from Helskloof to Vioolsdrif and Steinkopf.
Habitat and Ecology
Major system
Terrestrial
Major habitats
Umdaus Mountains Succulent Shrubland, Central Richtersveld Mountain Shrubland, Southern Nababiepsberge Mountain Desert, Kahams Mountain Desert
Description
Quartz gravel slopes and patches.
Threats
This species is possibly threatened by habitat degradation due to overgrazing, particularly around Kubus and Eksteenfontein. It is dependent on shelter from nurse-shrubs during its early development (Bruyns 2005), but severe overstocking has led to a loss of shrub cover in parts of the Richtersveld. It is possibly also threatened by collecting for the succulent trade, but plants are easily grown from cuttings, reducing the need to remove whole mature individuals from the wild.
Population

This is a rare species, occurring in small, scattered subpopulations.


Population trend
Stable
Assessment History
Taxon assessed
Status and Criteria
Citation/Red List version
Tromotriche herrei (Nel) BruynsNT D22015.1
Tromotriche herrei (Nel) BruynsRare Raimondo et al. (2009)
Tromotriche herrei (Nel) BruynsRare/Vulnerable Hilton-Taylor (1996)
Stapelia neliana A.C.White & B.SloaneIndeterminate Hall et al. (1980)
Bibliography

Bruyns, P.V. 1995. A re-assessment of the genera Tridentea Haw. and Tromotriche Haw. South African Journal of Botany 61(4):180-208.


Bruyns, P.V. 2005. Stapeliads of southern Africa and Madagascar. (Vol. 2, pp. 331-606). Umdaus Press, Pretoria.


Hall, A.V., De Winter, M., De Winter, B. and Van Oosterhout, S.A.M. 1980. Threatened plants of southern Africa. South African National Scienctific Programmes Report 45. CSIR, Pretoria.


Hilton-Taylor, C. 1996. Red data list of southern African plants. Strelitzia 4. South African National Botanical Institute, Pretoria.


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.


Citation
Raimondo, D. & von Staden, L. 2015. Tromotriche herrei (Nel) Bruyns. National Assessment: Red List of South African Plants version . Accessed on 2025/05/12

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Distribution map


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