Introductory Home Page
Sections and Species

Reference Links
What's New
First Page of QuestionsPrevious PageNext PageLast Page of Questions

Page 2 of 18

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

2. Are these species threatened with extinction?

Good news! As far as I know at present, no Adromischus deserves the highest conservation classifications of Extinct (EX, EW), Endangered (CR, EN) or Vulnerable (VU). Their habitat preference for rocky terrain means that they live in places unlikely to be developed. Their ease of propagation from leaves should alleviate any threat from excessive collection by people. Many species are widespread and all of the known taxa come from multiple populations.

The following taxa have been listed on one or another of the SA Red Data Plant Lists.

Taxon 1996 Status * 2007 Interim Global Status *** 2007 Interim SA National Status *** Comments
A. bicolor Insufficiently Known Least Concern Rare Found across 100 km E-W from multiple populations E. Willowmore to E. Steytlerville, but sparsely documented in herbaria. Rare.
A. cooperi Insufficiently Known Not listed Not listed Reported from many high mountains across 280 km of the E. Cape. Not Threatened.
A. cristatus var. mzimvubuensis Not listed Least Concern Rare Assuming localised plants of A. cristatus from other valleys along the Indian Ocean coast are the same taxon, then it has been found across 300 km. Rare.
A. cristatus var. schonlandii Not listed Least Concern Rare Taxonomic status needs better justification. Occasional narrow-leaved forms of A. cristatus occur widely scattered. Rare, but also Data Deficient.
A. cristatus var. zeyheri Insufficiently Known Data Deficient Data Deficient TL needs to be identified with certainty. Rare, but also Data Deficient.
A. diabolicus Indeterminate Least Concern Rare Poorly documented in herbaria and doubtfully distinct from A. nanus. Needs to be refound at its TL to verify distribution. Data Deficient.
A. fallax Indeterminate Least Concern Rare Found in modern times at two places around Graaff Reinet by PVB on high escarpment cliffs. Probably more widespread at equally inaccessible places. Rare.
A. halesowensis Not listed Not listed Not listed Refound in habitat, but taxonomic status still open. Rare and Data Deficient.
A. humilis Insufficiently Known Least Concern Rare Easily confused with Tylecodon ventricosus out of flower. Documented across 140 km scattered near the Nuweveldberge. Not Threatened.
A. liebenbergii Rare Not listed Not listed Found across 150 km E-W from the southern Tanqua Karoo, around Matjiesfontein to Laingsburg. Just localised and sparse. Not Threatened.
A. mamillaris Rare Still to be assessed Still to be assessed Refound in habitat by PVB, but taxonomic status still open. Very Rare!
A. marianiae var. marianiae Insufficiently Known Not listed Not listed Found across 50 km both W. & E. of the Cederberg around Clanwilliam. Not Threatened.
A. marianiae "geyeri" Not listed Not listed Not listed Probably restricted to a small area of coastal mountains near Rosh Pinah, Namibia. Rare.
A. marianiae var. hallii Insufficiently Known Least Concern Rare Assuming inland material is the same taxon as from the TL on the coast, found across 350 km from the Sperrgebiet to E. Concordia, but poorly documented in herbaria. Not Threatened.
A. marianiae "Little Spheroid" Not listed Not listed Not listed Name not yet published, but very restricted across 30 km in the Namaqualand coastal plains, with only two herbarium records. Rare.
A. maximus Not listed Least Concern Rare From a small area around Klawer about 30 km across. Rare.
A. nanus Rare Not listed Not listed Only rarely observed because of its small size and habit of growing tucked under the sides of rocks. Found on mountains in W. Bushmanland across 90 km from S. Vioolsdrift to E. Concordia. Not Threatened.
A. phillipsiae Insufficiently Known Not listed Not listed Easily confused with Tylecodon ventricosus out of flower. Found by PVB in two centres: S. Khamiesberg and S. Roggeveldberge to Matjiesfontein. Not Threatened.
A. roanianus Not listed Least Concern Rare Taxonomic status needs better justification - A. hemisphaericus grows nearby. Data Deficient.
A. schuldtianus subsp. schuldtianus Not listed Data Deficient ** Data Deficient ** Localised and sparse populations reported across 600 km N-S through central Namibia. Not Threatened.
A. schuldtianus subsp. juttae Rare Data Deficient ** Data Deficient ** Doubtfully distinct from the typical subsp. Taxonomic status needs better justification. Data Deficient.
A. schuldtianus subsp. brandbergensis Not listed Not listed Not listed Endemic to the remote Brandberg, Namibia. Rare.
A. subviridis Rare Least Concern Rare Small and localised populations scattered across 100 km from N. Nieuwoudtville to S. Calvinia, but only one herbarium record! Rare.
A. umbraticola Not listed Near Threatened Near Threatened Historically, localised and sparse populations reported across 200 km E-W and 100 km N-S around Pretoria and Jo'burg. Not Threatened, but locals may know otherwise nowadays ...
A. umbraticola var. ramosus Not listed Data Deficient Data Deficient Localised and sparse populations reported across 250 km of Limpopo Province e.g. Blouberg, Soutpansberg, Waterberg, but only a few herbarium records. Not Threatened.

* Strelitzia 4, The Red Data List of Southern African Plants, Craig Hilton-Taylor (1996), SANBI, hard cover, A4, 117 pp. ISBN 1-874907-29-3.

** Southern African Plant Red Data Lists, Janice Golding (2002), SABONET, Pretoria, hard cover, A4, 237 pp. ISBN 1-919795-64-2.

*** SA Threatened Species Programme (TSP) Red Data List .

Last Updated: Jul 2018
 Top of Page
© 2007 Derek Tribble, London, UK