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Scientific Name | Euphorbia quadrata Nel |
Higher Classification | Dicotyledons |
Family | EUPHORBIACEAE |
Synonyms | Euphorbia francescae L.C.Leach |
Common Names | Streepmelkbos (a) |
National Status |
Status and Criteria | Least Concern |
Assessment Date | 2014/08/12 |
Assessor(s) | L. von Staden |
Justification | A range-restricted species (EOO 628 km²), but fairly common within suitable habitat. The population is currently stable, but may decline in future if grazing pressure increases. |
Distribution |
Endemism | South African endemic |
Provincial distribution | Northern Cape |
Range | Richtersveld, central mountains between Kuboes and Eksteenfontein. |
Habitat and Ecology |
Major system | Terrestrial |
Major habitats | Central Richtersveld Mountain Shrubland, Stinkfonteinberge Quartzite Fynbos |
Description | Succulent shrubland, among rocks and under bushes on south to southwest-facing upper mountain slopes. |
Threats |
| This species occurs in remote, mountainous areas where grazing pressure is currently low. However, as rangelands closer to settlements and on the plains are increasingly degraded, herders are likely to move into the mountains more frequently in search of grazing for their livestock. Some areas where this species occurs are currently sporadically visited by herders. It is unlikely to be browsed, but is dependent on shelter provided by shrubs. Elsewhere in the Richtersveld overgrazing has significantly reduced shrub cover, to the detriment of many nurse-plant dependent species. |
Population |
This cryptic species is easily overlooked, but is fairly common across the central mountains of the Richtersveld.
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Population trend | Stable |
Assessment History |
Taxon assessed |
Status and Criteria |
Citation/Red List version | | Euphorbia quadrata Nel | Least Concern | 2015.1 | | Euphorbia quadrata Nel | Rare | Raimondo et al. (2009) | | Euphorbia quadrata Nel | Rare | Hilton-Taylor (1996) | |
Bibliography |
Bruyns, P.V. 1992. Notes on Euphorbia species from the northwestern Cape. Bothalia 22(1):37-51.
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.
White, A., Dyer, R.A. and Sloane, B.L. 1941. The succulent Euphorbieae (Southern Africa) Volume I. Abbey Garden Press, Pasadena.
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Citation |
| von Staden, L. 2014. Euphorbia quadrata Nel. National Assessment: Red List of South African Plants version . Accessed on 2025/04/23 |
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