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Scientific Name | Rhinephyllum graniforme (Haw.) L.Bolus |
Higher Classification | Dicotyledons |
Family | AIZOACEAE |
Synonyms | Mesembryanthemum graniforme Haw. |
National Status |
Status and Criteria | Least Concern |
Assessment Date | 2019/10/24 |
Assessor(s) | D. Raimondo |
Justification | Rhinephyllum graniforme is a species from the southern Karoo Basin, with an extent of occurrence (EOO) of 17 996 km². It was recorded from 12 subpopulations but likely to be undersampled. Many specimens note that this species is locally common and has no significant current threats and therefore qualifies as Least Concern. |
Distribution |
Endemism | South African endemic |
Provincial distribution | Western Cape |
Range | This species is endemic to South Africa, and is found in Fraserburg and is frequent in patches between Laingsburg and Prince Albert. |
Habitat and Ecology |
Major system | Terrestrial |
Major habitats | Koedoesberge-Moordenaars Karoo, Prince Albert Succulent Karoo, Gamka Karoo, Central Mountain Shale Renosterveld |
Description | It occurs on shale flats. |
Threats |
| There are no current significant threats to Rhinephyllum graniforme.
Large-scale shale gas fracking was proposed in 2015 for the Karoo basin covering the majority of this species' range. Subpopulations on flats would be most vulnerable to habitat loss to infrastructure development related to fracking, and this species could decline in future if fracking goes ahead. A Strategic Environmental Impact Assessment submitted to South Africa's Department of Environmental Affairs in 2016 cautioned against moving ahead with Shale Gas fracking based on the very high infrastructure costs associated with fracking as well as multiple secondary negative impacts both to biodiversity and other economic activities in the region. Furthermore geological studies that have taken place since 2016 have found that gas deposits are not as substantial as original suspected due to the very old age of the Karoo shale formations and the fact that the extensive number of dolerite intrusions throughout the Karoo have resulted in much of the gas being lost. At present, future development scenarios are too uncertain to estimate the potential extent of the impact on the population but it is unlikely that shale gas fracking will proceed in the near future. |
Population |
A number of herbarium specimens note that this species is locally common.
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Population trend | Stable |
Assessment History |
Taxon assessed |
Status and Criteria |
Citation/Red List version | | Rhinephyllum graniforme (Haw.) L.Bolus | Least Concern | Raimondo et al. (2009) | |
Bibliography |
Magee, A.R. and Boatwright, J.S. (eds). In prep. Plants of the Karoo: A Conspectus of the Nama-Karoo and Adjacent Summer-Rainfall Regions of the Northern and Western Cape Provinces. Strelitzia.
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 |
| Raimondo, D. 2019. Rhinephyllum graniforme (Haw.) L.Bolus. National Assessment: Red List of South African Plants version . Accessed on 2025/04/13 |
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