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Scientific Name | Euphorbia pseudoglobosa Marloth |
Higher Classification | Dicotyledons |
Family | EUPHORBIACEAE |
Synonyms | Euphorbia juglans Compton |
National Status |
Status and Criteria | Endangered C2a(i) |
Assessment Date | 2022/10/06 |
Assessor(s) | N.N. Mhlongo & J.H. Vlok |
Justification | This species has a small population of fewer than 500 plants. Most subpopulations are small, consisting of fewer than 50 plants, with no subpopulation recorded to have more than 250 individuals. The population is declining due to the illegal collection of mature individuals and habitat loss and degradation due to overgrazing and invasive alien plants. It therefore meets the thresholds for listing as Endangered under criterion C. |
Distribution |
Endemism | South African endemic |
Provincial distribution | Western Cape |
Range | This species is endemic to the Western Cape Province of South Africa, where it is restricted to the Klein Karoo and parts of the coastal plain to the south of it. |
Habitat and Ecology |
Major system | Terrestrial |
Major habitats | Little Karoo Quartz Vygieveld, Montagu Shale Renosterveld, Matjiesfontein Shale Renosterveld, Eastern Ruens Shale Renosterveld, Central Ruens Shale Renosterveld |
Description | Plants occur on gravely slopes or flats on shale, often in quartz patches. |
Threats |
| This species is threatened primarily by the illegal removal of wild plants for the succulent trade. This species is very charismatic but also very slow-growing. In addition, some subpopulations are threatened by competition from invasive alien plants and habitat loss and degradation as a result of overgrazing. |
Population |
The population is estimated to be less than 500 plants, with the subpopulations typically reported to have fewer than 50 individuals. There is a continuing decline due to illegal collection, loss of suitable habitat, and competition with invasive alien plants.
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Population trend | Decreasing |
Assessment History |
Taxon assessed |
Status and Criteria |
Citation/Red List version | | Euphorbia pseudoglobosa Marloth | VU B1ab(iii,v)+2ab(iii,v) | 2014.1 | | Euphorbia juglans Compton | Least Concern | Raimondo et al. (2009) | | Euphorbia pseudoglobosa Marloth | VU B1ab(iii,v)+2ab(iii,v) | Raimondo et al. (2009) | | Euphorbia pseudoglobosa Marloth | Insufficiently Known | Hilton-Taylor (1996) | |
Bibliography |
Bruyns, P.V. 2012. Nomenclature and typification of southern African species of Euphorbia. Bothalia 42(2):217-245.
Bruyns, P.V. 2018. New taxa in Euphorbia (Euphorbiaceae) in southern Africa. Haseltonia 25:30-56.
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.
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.
Vlok, J. and Schutte-Vlok, A.L. 2010. Plants of the Klein Karoo. Umdaus Press, Hatfield.
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Citation |
| Mhlongo, N.N. & Vlok, J.H. 2022. Euphorbia pseudoglobosa Marloth. National Assessment: Red List of South African Plants version . Accessed on 2025/05/17 |
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