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Scientific Name | Acanthopsis insueta H.M.Steyn |
Higher Classification | Dicotyledons |
Family | ACANTHACEAE |
National Status |
Status and Criteria | Critically Rare |
Assessment Date | 2023/02/20 |
Assessor(s) | L. von Staden, H.M. Steyn & P.C.V. Van Wyk |
Justification | A highly localized Richtersveld endemic with an extent of occurrence (EOO) of less than 10 km². Its habitat is well-protected and it is not in danger of extinction. Therefore, it is listed under IUCN 3.1 as Least Concern but is classified as Critically Rare at the national level. |
Distribution |
Endemism | South African endemic |
Provincial distribution | Northern Cape |
Range | This species is restricted to the southern Richtersveld, Vyftienmyl-se-Berg, in the Northern Cape province, South Africa. |
Habitat and Ecology |
Major system | Terrestrial |
Major habitats | Vyftienmyl se Berge Succulent Shrubland |
Description | It grows in well-drained sandy soils among quartzite rocks on mountain slopes and summits, 230-450 m. |
Threats |
| There are no severe threats to this species. Its entire range falls within a formally protected area. Elsewhere in the Richtersveld overstocking of communal rangelands have led to severe degradation of the natural vegetation, with a significant loss of plant species diversity in many places. The site where this species occurs is however fenced off and livestock are kept out to protect the many local endemics to this mountain.
The site is targeted for illegal wild collection of plants for sale in the specialist horticultural market. Acanthopsis species are however not targeted by collectors, and plant collection is unlikely to be a threat.
Abiotic changes linked to global environmental change are currently being experienced in the Richtersveld and are expected to intensify into the future, with observed temperature change and reduced precipitation over the past 10 years already reaching those predicted for near future scenarios (2035) (van Wilgen et al. 2016). Despite these abiotic changes, monitoring shows that this species has not been impacted by drought. It appears that species in the genus Acanthopsis are generally quite resilient to drought conditions. |
Population |
This species is known from a small area on the northern section of the summit of Vyftienmyl-se-Berg. This inselberg is known for its many local endemics, and is therefore likely that it is endemic to this mountain. As there are no severe threats, the population is not suspected to be declining.
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Population trend | Stable |
Assessment History |
Taxon assessed |
Status and Criteria |
Citation/Red List version | | Acanthopsis insueta H.M.Steyn | Critically Rare | 2020.1 | |
Bibliography |
Steyn, H.M. and Van Wyk, A.E. 2017. Taxonomic notes on Acanthopsis (Acanthaceae, tribe Acantheae): the group with semi-dense spikes and 5-fid bracts. Phytotaxa 324(2):101-121.
Van Wilgen, N.J., Goodall, V., Holness, S., Chown, S.L. and M.A., M. 2016. Rising temperatures and changing rainfall patterns in South Africa's national parks. International Journal of Climatology 36(2):706-721.
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Citation |
| von Staden, L., Steyn, H.M. & Van Wyk, P.C.V. 2023. Acanthopsis insueta H.M.Steyn. National Assessment: Red List of South African Plants version . Accessed on 2025/04/14 |
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