Blyde River Cycad
CR

Blyde River Cycad

Encephalartos cupidus

Declining

Photo: Wikimedia Commons (CC) via https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Encephalartos_cupidus

Overview

A detailed profile for this species is sourced from the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species as assessments become available.

Encephalartos cupidus faces severe pressure from illegal collection for the horticultural trade, with mature plants commanding extremely high prices that drive continued poaching from wild populations. The species' naturally fragmented distribution across a few rocky outcrops in KwaZulu-Natal makes remaining populations highly vulnerable to local extinctions. Habitat degradation from invasive plant species and altered fire regimes further threatens the specialized rocky grassland environments this cycad requires.

Threat summary

Habitat

Encephalartos cupidus occurs in rocky grassland and savanna habitats on steep slopes and cliff faces in the KwaZulu-Natal province of South Africa. The species is adapted to well-drained, rocky soils and requires the specific microclimate conditions found in these elevated, exposed sites.

Forest· majorForest - Subtropical/tropical dry· majorRocky areas· major

Conservation measures underway

Site/area protectionSpecies managementSpecies recoveryAwareness & communicationsLegislation

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Frequently asked questions

Why is Blyde River Cycad classified as Critically Endangered?
Blyde River Cycad is classified as Critically Endangered — facing an extremely high risk of extinction in the wild — because population sizes are very small, declining sharply, or restricted to a tiny range. Encephalartos cupidus faces severe pressure from illegal collection for the horticultural trade, with mature plants commanding extremely high prices that drive continued poaching from wild populations. The species' naturally fragmented distribution across a few rocky outcrops in KwaZulu-Natal makes remaining populations highly vulnerable to local extinctions. Habitat degradation from invasive plant species and altered fire regimes further threatens the specialized rocky grassland environments this cycad requires.
Where does Blyde River Cycad live?
Blyde River Cycad occurs in South Africa. Country-level distribution data is sourced from the IUCN Red List and cross-referenced with GBIF occurrences.
What are the main threats to Blyde River Cycad?
The main threats to Blyde River Cycad are ai-1, ai-2, ai-3, and ai-4. The full IUCN-classified threat record for this species is detailed on the species page.

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