Before a species can be managed or protected, it needs a name

This June, a newly described species from Limpopo was highlighted through iNaturalist, a citizen science platform where people record plants, animals and fungi they see in the wild.

Thorncroftia attwoodii was described after fieldwork on the Limpopo-Mpumalanga-Eswatini Escarpment revealed a Thorncroftia species that did not match any known species.

The discovery followed earlier work to rediscover Thorncroftia media, a species not seen in the wild since 1976. Simon Attwood, K2C’s Upper Blyde Restoration Manager, continued searching for where else it might occur. Together with local hiking guides Thabang Kgohloane, also K2C’s Freshwater Technician, and Sbara Tshehla, they identified likely habitat and returned to the escarpment with Carel Fourie and Jan Graf.

But what they found was something new.

The species has now been named Thorncroftia attwoodii in recognition of Simon’s botanical knowledge, iNaturalist contributions and dedication to documenting under-collected areas.

It is currently known from only three localities, growing on steep quartzite cliffs, with around 6,700 plants recorded. It has been provisionally assessed as Data Deficient under IUCN criteria, meaning more information is needed to understand its conservation risk, and as Rare under South Africa’s Red List categories used by SANBI.

This matters for the K2C Biosphere Region, where our mountains, cliffs and grasslands still hold species not yet fully known to science.

We are proud of the dedication, curiosity and field knowledge that Simon and Thabang bring to this work!