These are prices that living specimens of a plant that is officially Extinct in the Wild can command. Note that the R300 000 individual had indeed been sold.
This is this plant's only known habitat: gardens and exclusive nurseries such as this one that sell these plants. Legally, I assume.
How does it work? From the Red List: "The species was described from a single individual comprising several stems. No other plants were ever found. Some of the original stems were killed through bark harvesting and the last wild plants had been transferred to botanic gardens by 1916."
Spotted these on our farm a couple of days ago. It's a low lying ground cover with tiny yellow, orange and red flowers on. Really hard to spot
This species is common in Vrolijkheid, especially on the upper slopes and on top of koppies, not so much in the low-lying areas.
Low compact shrubs up to about 70cm high were observed.
Tiny yellow flowers about 6mm long and 3mm wide.
Numerous photos of flowers, leaves, branches, habit & habitat are included!