A restricted endemic to the Sperrgebiet region of Namibia. The population size is estimated to be less than 2,500 mature individuals with no subpopulation known to have more than 250 mature individuals.  A continuing decline has taken place as a result of the prolonged drought between 2015 and 2022.  The large scale planned green hydrogen projects for the Southern Corridor Development Initiative in the northern part of the Tsau //Khaeb (Sperrgebiet) National Park is expected to contribute to the loss of three of the ten known subpopulations within the next 10 years. This species is therefore listed as Endangered under criterion C.

This species is endemic to Namibia. Its distribution range is localised to within the coastal desert fog zone of the Tsau //Khaeb (Sperrgebiet) National Park (Liu et al. 2007). The range stretches in a narrow strip from the town of Lüderitz ,then southeast to Kolmanskop and southwards to east of Chameis Bay. The distribution range is based on herbarium specimen data obtained from the the National Herbarium of Namibia, GBIF and iNaturalist and corresponds with information available in the taxonomic literature.

Initial surveys for some subpopulations conducted in the early 2000s indicated that subpopulations were small. Recent observations have confirmed that subpopulations are mostly between between 50 and 100 mature individuals (A. Burke pers. comm. 2023). At least ten subpopulations are known but there are at least a further 10 likely to occur in unexplored parts of its range. The total population is likely to range between 1,000 and 2,000 mature individuals. No subpopulation is known to have more than 250 mature individuals. The population is suspected to  be declining as a result of mortality of adults due to the prolonged drought between 2015 and 2023. Given planned expansion of renewable energy projects and associated urban expansion the population decline over the next 10 years is expected to accelerate.

The species is only found within the southern Namib desert within the fog zone and within areas subjected to constant wind. Specimens were collected on quartz gravel, sand blown plains and rock faces, in sandy areas or rocky outcrops and west-facing hillslopes. Very little is known about its ecology and the generation length has not been documented, however, given that it is a perennial species from arid areas that is likely to be long lived it is suspected to have a minimum generation length of five years.

All the subpopulations currently fall within a strict conservation area as indicated by the five year park management plan and the biodiversity monitoring framework for the park. However there are large scale infrastructure development plans overlapping with this species range for future green energy production (green hydrogen plants, wind farms, solar farms, new roads, town expansion, waste management). Feasibility studies are currently being undertake with proposed development footprints overlapping with at least 10–15 per cent of the species range. These future mega renewable energy projects are expected to cause three of the ten known subpopulations to be lost in the next ten years. At present the effect of diamond mining, the only past economic activity within its range, is not known but is expected to have been minimal. This species falls within a region already experiencing climate change effects and the population has declined over the past 10 years as a result of a severe drought.

The entire population of this species falls within a formally protected area and is therefore passively conserved. Public access to this park is more restricted than any other national park. The influx of employees within the area due to the future projects will however significantly increase and this is expected to negatively impact on the survival of this species. There is one reported ex situ collection (BGCI 2024).