Schlechterina mitostemmatoides | SANBI Sensitive Species

Assessor: Sarah Schumann

Sensitive in 2010

Family

Passifloraceae

Reason for the sensitivity status

This species is Vulnerable as it is experiencing population decline within its South African range due to harvesting of wild individuals for medicinal purposes. Few known locations of occurrence with existing threats including harvesting, makes this species vulnerable to further population loss. Recruitment and recovery may be poor. Releasing data on this species could exacerbate threat and vulnerability.

This species is extremely rare in the wild and is known to be exploited, utilised or traded. The localities of remaining populations need to be protected to avoid any further exploitation, which is likely to drive it to extinction.

Exploitation extent

Significant - wild individuals of the species are known to be exploited, collected, traded or utilized in a targeted manner, and utilisation is widespread, affects the majority of wild populations and/or is causing rapid decline of the wild population.

Justification and references

According to the SANBI Red List Assessment, this species is Vulnerable as it is experiencing population decline within its South African range due to harvesting of wild individuals for medicinal purposes as well habitat loss (Williams et al. 2008; Von Ahlefeldt et al. 2003; Williams, 2007).

Von Ahlefeldt, D., Crouch, N.R., Nichols, G., Symmonds, R., McKean, S., Sibiya, H. and Cele, M.P. 2003. Medicinal plants traded on South Africa's eastern seabord. Porcupine Press, Durban.

Williams, V.L. 2007. The design of a risk assessment model to determine the impact of the herbal medicine trade on the Witwatersrand on resources of indigenous plant species. Unpublished PhD Thesis, University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg.

Williams, V.L., Raimondo, D., Crouch, N.R., Cunningham, A.B., Scott-Shaw, C.R., Lötter, M. & Ngwenya, A.M. 2008. Schlechterina mitostemmatoides Harms. National Assessment: Red List of South African Plants version 2020.1.

Population vulnerability

Population is vulnerable: size is <= 2500 mature individuals OR the number of known subpopulations is <= 5 OR range is <= 100km² OR species at risk of localised extinctions

Justification and references

This taxon has an extent of occurrence of 1100 km² and is declining at five locations (Williams et al. 2008).

Targeted demographics

Mature (breeding) individuals are killed, significantly weakened or are permanently removed from the wild, OR immature individuals are targeted and this significantly impacts mature (breeding) individuals.

Justification and references

Harvesting of wild individuals are known to be destructive (Williams et al. 2008).

Regeneration potential

This species has a slow population growth rate, or the growth rate varies depending on habitat, and there is a poor chance the wild populations will recover from exploitation OR a collector might feasibly harvest the entire extant population removing the chance of subsequent recruitment.

Justification and references

Few known locations of occurrence with existing threats including harvesting, makes this species vulnerable to further population loss. Recruitment and recovery may be poor.

Reference file

Schlechterina mitostemmatoides Threatened Species Programme _ SANBI Red List of South African Plants.pdf735.15 KB