Kingdom Plantae Family Aizoaceae Tribe Ruschieae Rank Species | Order Caryophyllales Subfamily Ruschioideae Genus Lampranthus | |
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Similar Glottiphyllum depressum, Carruanthus ringens, Sesuvioideae, Drosanthemum speciosum, Meyerophytum | ||
Lampranthus tenuifolius, the Narrow-leaf Brightfig, is a critically endangered species of succulent plant that is endemic to the Cape Flats Dune Strandveld around Cape Town, South Africa.
Contents
Description
This tiny species of Brightfig is normally not more than 10–15 cm in height. It produces bright pink and violet flowers.
Distribution
This plant is naturally restricted to the coastal dune Strandveld vegetation of the Cape Flats, Cape Town. Here it grows in mildly alkaline or neutral sands.
Threats and Conservation
In the last few decades, Lampranthus tenuifolius has lost most of its natural habitat and over 80% of its subpopulations, to farming and the urban sprawl of Cape Town. It is currently classified as Critically Endangered by the IUCN
Two tiny and fragmented patches of this plant remain, totalling roughly 100 plants. This tiny population is still decreasing - now mainly due to invasive alien plants and coastal developments.