CR

Thesium subsucculentum

Declining

Overview

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

Thesium subsucculentum faces severe threats from agricultural expansion and urban development across its extremely limited range in the Western Cape of South Africa. The species' specialized parasitic relationship with specific host plants makes it particularly vulnerable to habitat fragmentation, as both the species and its hosts require intact fynbos ecosystems. Invasive alien plant species further degrade remaining habitat patches, while climate change threatens the delicate moisture balance required for this succulent parasitic plant's survival.

Threat summary

Habitat

This species is endemic to the fynbos vegetation of the Western Cape, South Africa, where it grows as a root parasite in sandy soils of coastal and inland shrublands. It requires specific host plants within the diverse fynbos ecosystem and is adapted to the Mediterranean climate with winter rainfall and dry summers.

Marine coastal/supratidal· majorMarine neritic· major

Conservation measures underway

Site/area protectionSpecies recoverySpecies reintroductionLegislation

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Lepiota echinella

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Lyophyllum deliberatum

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Frequently asked questions

Why is Thesium subsucculentum classified as Critically Endangered?
Thesium subsucculentum 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. Thesium subsucculentum faces severe threats from agricultural expansion and urban development across its extremely limited range in the Western Cape of South Africa. The species' specialized parasitic relationship with specific host plants makes it particularly vulnerable to habitat fragmentation, as both the species and its hosts require intact fynbos ecosystems. Invasive alien plant species further degrade remaining habitat patches, while climate change threatens the delicate moisture balance required for this succulent parasitic plant's survival.
Where does Thesium subsucculentum live?
Thesium subsucculentum occurs in Spain. Country-level distribution data is sourced from the IUCN Red List and cross-referenced with GBIF occurrences.
What are the main threats to Thesium subsucculentum?
The main threats to Thesium subsucculentum are 1.1, 2.1, ai-1, and ai-2. The full IUCN-classified threat record for this species is detailed on the species page.

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