A botanist at the Richertsveld Transfrontier Park in the Northern Cape is concerned that the iconic Halfmens succulent plants, which are only found in the Richtersveld desert and parts of Namibia, may eventually become extinct due to climate change and constant droughts.
A drought event that occurred at the Richtersveld has reduced the Pachypodium Namaquanum or Halfmens, by over 80. Another drought would wipe out the entire species.
Pachypodium Namaquanum, also known as Halfmens or elephants trunk, is a succulent plant found in Southern Africa.
The Genus name Pachypodium is from the Greek for thick foot, an allusion to its swollen base, while the species name Namaquanum is a reference to Namaqualand.
The succulent plant is native to the arid, rocky mountains of the Richtersveld in the Northern Cape and Southern Namibia.
