Thia species was restricted to a very small area along the southwestern coast of the Western Cape Province of South Africa, where it was found growing in so-called sandstone fynbos.
The species has not been found since over 100 years and is very probably extinct. [1]
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References:
[1] N. A. Helme; T. H. Trinder-Smith: The endemic flora of the cape Peninsula, South africa. South African Journal of Botany 72: 205-210. 2005
This species was restricted to the Fynbos in the clanwilliam area in the Western Cape Province of South Africa; most of the this region has been developed for urban or agricultural use.
The Armed Heath is one of numerous heath species that are endemic to the Western Cape Province of South Africa, its taxonomic status is not fully clearified and it may in fact be a hybrid, however, there are two additional varieties that sometimes are accepted, Erica velitaris var. hemisphaerica Bolus, and Erica velitaris var. parvibracteata Bolus.
If this is in fact a true species with three subspecies, then the nominate may be extinct.
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References:
[1] N. A. Helme; T. H. Trinder-Smith: The endemic flora of the Cape Peninsula, South africa. South African Journal of Botany 72: 205-210. 2005
The little Cape Erepsia was known to occur at three areas on the cape Peninsula, South Africa; one was Cape Point, a cliff at the southern end of the Cape Peninsula, the other two were at the town of Hermanus and at Sea Point, today a densely populated suburban of Cape Town.
The species was last seen in 1950 and is believed to be possibly extinct, howevere, it was found growing in the so-called Hangklip Sand Fynbos, a habitat that still exists at least at Cape Point, thus there is still some hope that this species might be rediscovered some day.
This species is known from the type material only which was collected in 1918 from the northern slopes of the Table Mountain near Cape Town in the Western Cape province of South Africa.
The area in which this plant was found is now overgrown by alien plants and the species was never found since the collection of the type and is thus most likely extinct. [1]
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References:
[1] N. A. Helme; T. H. Trinder-Smith: The endemic flora of the cape Peninsula, South africa. South African Journal of Botany 72: 205-210. 2005
The Variegated Aspalathus was described in 1836; it was endemic to a small locality on the Cape Flats in southwestern South Africa, a area that now is taken by the city of Cape Town.
The species was last found in 1898 and is now extinct.
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References:
[1] N. A. Helme; T. H. Trinder-Smith: The endemic flora of the cape Peninsula, South Africa. South African Journal of Botany 72: 205-210. 2005
The Pyramid Heath was restricted to what today is the city of Cape Town in the Western Cape Province, South Africa.
The species disappeared at the beginning of the 20th century due to the destruction of its habitat by the expanding city, and, despite the fact that the species was even cultivated for some time it is now considered extinct. [1]
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References:
[1] N. A. Helme; T. H. Trinder-Smith: The endemic flora of the Cape Peninsula, South africa. South African Journal of Botany 72: 205-210. 2005
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Depiction from: ‘Conrad Loddiges & Sons; George Loddiges; John & Arthur Arch: The Botanical Cabinet: consisting of coloured delineations of plants, from all countries, with a short account of each, directions for management &c. &c.. London: John & Arthur Arch 1817-1833’
This species is known from the type alone, which was collected in 1870 at an unknown place probably in the Knysna area of the Western Cape Province, South Africa.
The species was never found again and is considered extinct.
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Depiction from: ’Adolf Engler: Botanische Jahrbücher für Systematik, Pflanzengeschichte und Pflanzengeographie 31. 1902’
Table Mountain Crawling Water Beetle (Algophilus lathridoides)
The Table Mountain Crawling Water Beetle, described in the year 1924, is known only from the type locality near Simons Town in the Western Cape Province of South Africa.
The species was obviously not found during recent field searches and is considered most probably extinct.
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References:
[1] T. R. New: Beetle Conservation. Springer 2007 [2] A. G. Rebelo; P. M. Holmes; C. Dorse; J. Wood: Impacts of urbanization in a biodiversity hotspot: Conservation challenges in Metropolitan Cape Town. South African Journal of Botany 2010
This species is known exclusively from the type collection from 1964.
The Vredenburg Hesperantha was found on granite rocks, which are located at the edge of the town of Vredenburg in the Western Cape Province, South Africa.
The species was never found since and is considered most likely extinct.
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The photo shows one of the many beautiful species of this genus, the Red Hesperantha (Hesperantha coccinea ((Backh. & Harv.) Goldblatt & J. C. Manning)).
Dickson’s Dark Opal (Lepidochrysops methymna ssp. dicksoni)
The Monkey Blue is widely distributed in the Eastern- and Western Cape Provinces of South Africa, the species has very high demands concerning the structure of its habitat.
The caterpillars in the first few days of their life feed on two plant species, Pseudoselago serrata (P. J. Bergius) Hilliard and Pseudoselago spuria (L.) Hilliard, hereafter they require the presence of colonies of a special ant species, Liengme’s Camponotus Ant (Camponotus liengmei For.) (or Camponotus maculatus ssp. liengmei For.), in whose anthills they live from the third instar on as brood parasites, feeding on the eggs and larvae of the ants.
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Dickson’s Monkey Blue, called Tygerberg-bloutjie in Afrikaans, was described in the year 1964. The subspecies was restricted to a very tiny area of only about 4 km² on the northwestern side of the Tygerberg range – this area was converted into agricultural land for wheat farming, whereby both, the food plants as well as the ant colonies were destroyed.
Dickson’s Monkey Blue is now considered extinct.
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References:
[1] G. A. Henning; R. F. Terblanche; J. B. Ball: South African Red Data Book: butterflies. SANBI Biodiversity Series 13. South African National Biodiversity Institute, Pretoria 2009
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Depiction from: ‘G. T. Bethune-Baker: A Monograph of the genus Catochrysops Boisduval (Auctorum). Transactions of the Entomological Society of London. 275-366. 1922’
