CR

Pelargonium insularis

Unknown

Overview

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

Pelargonium insularis faces severe threats from its extremely restricted range on Robben Island, South Africa, where the entire population is vulnerable to single catastrophic events. Invasive alien vegetation competes directly with native plants for limited space and resources on the small island. Human activities including infrastructure development and tourism pressure further fragment the already minimal suitable habitat available to this endemic geranium.

Threat summary

Habitat

This endemic geranium is restricted to the coastal fynbos vegetation of Robben Island, where it grows in sandy soils and rocky outcrops. The species occupies a highly specialized niche within the island's Mediterranean-climate shrubland ecosystem.

Rocky areas· major

Other threatened species in GERANIACEAE

CR

Geranium antisanae

Unknown
CR

Geranium kauaiense

Declining
Erodium astragaloidesCR

Erodium astragaloides

Declining
CR

Sosonovskiy's Heron's-bill

Erodium sosnowskianum

Unknown

Frequently asked questions

Why is Pelargonium insularis classified as Critically Endangered?
Pelargonium insularis 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. Pelargonium insularis faces severe threats from its extremely restricted range on Robben Island, South Africa, where the entire population is vulnerable to single catastrophic events. Invasive alien vegetation competes directly with native plants for limited space and resources on the small island. Human activities including infrastructure development and tourism pressure further fragment the already minimal suitable habitat available to this endemic geranium.
Where does Pelargonium insularis live?
Pelargonium insularis occurs in across multiple regions. Country-level distribution data is sourced from the IUCN Red List and cross-referenced with GBIF occurrences.
What are the main threats to Pelargonium insularis?
The main threats to Pelargonium insularis 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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