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Scientific Name | Ceropegia distincta N.E.Br. subsp. verruculosa R.A.Dyer |
Higher Classification | Dicotyledons |
Family | APOCYNACEAE |
National Status |
Status and Criteria | Critically Endangered A3c+4c |
Assessment Date | 2022/05/31 |
Assessor(s) | M. Lötter, H. Mtshali & L. von Staden |
Justification | This taxon once occurred commonly in the farms south of Burgersfort, but through the intensification of agricultural practises and rural expansion it has suffered population reduction and is now at high risk of extinction. A population reduction of 25% over the past two generations (60 years) is estimated based on historical loss of habitat in sites where this taxon was recorded. Following surveys conducted between 2014 and 2016, the population was found to be restricted to a former private reserve that was deproclaimed between 2018 and 2020 for the expansion of citrus orchards. The total population at this site consists of 136 individuals. This taxon has been collected from other sites historically and most of these were searched for between 2014 and 2016 and the taxon was not recorded. However searches were not exhaustive and given that habitat still remains within this area it is possible there are unrecorded subpopulations. With future loss of the only remaining confirmed subpopulation projected to occur in the next 10 years, and extensive ongoing intensification of its preferred habitat to citrus farming, at least 80% of the population is projected to be lost in the next 20 - 30 years. An overall decline of greater than 80% will therefore take place within a three generation period for this short lived taxon (generation length 20-30 years). This taxon therefore qualifies for listing as Critically Endangered under criterion A. |
Distribution |
Endemism | South African endemic |
Provincial distribution | Limpopo, Mpumalanga |
Range | This taxon has a limited distribution near the border of Mpumalanga and Limpopo provinces of South Africa in Burgersfort area. |
Habitat and Ecology |
Major system | Terrestrial |
Major habitats | Ohrigstad Mountain Bushveld |
Description | It is found in open deciduous woodland, at an altitudinal range of 500-900 m. |
Threats |
| This taxon habitat is already 20-30% irreversibly modified, predominantly due to loss to crop cultivation and expanding rural settlements, and loss continues (2% loss between 1990 and 2014). The known remaining population at the old private reserve is at risk of extinction as the landowner has deproclaimed the reserve to expand the citrus orchards. Based on a survey conducted between 2014 and 2016 the total population count is 136 plants and all occur in this private reserve. Plants were not located in historically recorded sites. Should the landowner succeed in the application to develop, this taxon is likely to go extinct. |
Population |
It occurs as a single subpopulation south of Burgersfort. It is uncertain whether a second subpopulation, to the north of Burgersfort, last recorded in the 1980s, still survives, as natural vegetation in the area is now largely lost to rural settlements. The population continues to decline due to ongoing habitat loss and degradation. About 25-30% of the population is inferred to be lost in the past 40 years. Field surveys conducted between 2014 and 2016 indicate the this species is at high risk of extinction. It is currently known from the total population count of 136 individuals, from one farm. Plants were not found at other historically recorded sites during this survey. The rate of loss of this subspecies has been low in the past two generations (40 years), but it is likely to be extremely high over the next 10 years resulting in over 80% loss to the population projected to take place between 1975 and 2042 (three generations).
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Population trend | Decreasing |
Assessment History |
Taxon assessed |
Status and Criteria |
Citation/Red List version | | Ceropegia distincta N.E.Br. subsp. verruculosa R.A.Dyer | VU B1ab(i,ii,iii,iv,v)+2ab(i,ii,iii,iv,v) | 2015.1 | | Ceropegia distincta N.E.Br. subsp. verruculosa R.A.Dyer | Data Deficient | Raimondo et al. (2009) | |
Bibliography |
Dyer, R.A. 1980. Brachystelma, Ceropegia and Riocreuxia. In: O.A. Leistner (ed). Flora of Southern Africa 27 Part 4:1-88. Botanical Research 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.
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Citation |
| Lötter, M., Mtshali, H. & von Staden, L. 2022. Ceropegia distincta N.E.Br. subsp. verruculosa R.A.Dyer. National Assessment: Red List of South African Plants version . Accessed on 2025/04/13 |
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