Trichodiadema stayneri was recently recorded by environmental consultant and botanist, Luc Strydom

Trichodiadema stayneri L. Bolus is a rare succulent that is listed as Critically Endangered – Possibly Extinct on SANBI’s Red List database. This is due to a single collection, by Mr. Frank Stayner (former curator of the Karoo National Botanical Gardens) in 1960 from an area detailed as “2 miles east of Uitenhage”. It is presumed that this area has been lost to the expansion of Uitenhage, and therefore considered possibly extinct. Trichodiadema are a genus of plants in the Aizoaceae family of plants, and are often locally referred to as “vygies”. The name Trichodiadema comes from the ancient Greek “trikhos” (hair,bristle) and “diadem” (crown) because of their unique leaves which are tipped with radiating hairs.

Trichodiadema stayneri was however recently recorded by environmental consultant and botanist, Luc Strydom, within the Jachtvlakte area between Kariega (Uitenhage), Despatch and Gqeberha (Port Elizabeth). This is the first time the plant has been recorded for over 60 years.  Fieldwork generated data from private ecological assessments can not only assist developers in making better-informed decisions, but can also add valuable ecological input for our national biodiversity databases.