Pelargonium xerophyton

According to the SANBI Red List Assessment, this species is of Least Concern and not fully assessed (Foden & Potter, 2005). All the tuber Pelargoniums (section Hoarea) are exploited to some extent but this has a minimal or insignificant impact on the majority of the species due to the low amount of exploitation and population sizes (van der Walt, R personal communication, 12 August 2022). Foreign collectors will collect one our two tubers and then propagate the species under artificial conditions (van der Walt, R personal communication, 12 August 2022). Seeds are also exchanged between collectors and this is then responsible that less wild plants are collected (van der Walt, R personal communication, 12 August 2022). Collection of wild specimens are mostly confined to places close to public roads while the populations far away from public roads are rarely affected by collectors as is the case with P. xerophytum (van der Walt, R personal communication, 12 August 2022). A bigger threat to xerophytum and a range of other tuber pelargoniums are overstocking of livestock and illegal clearing of vegetation for new crops (van der Walt, R personal communication, 12 August 2022).This genus is in demand and of popular interest in international horticultural trade, as indicated by several online marketplace, e-commerce and auction sites. Plants of this genus were among those targeted and/or confiscated during recent criminal prosecutions of illegal plant collecting. There have been several recorded confiscations of this species and others of the Pelargonium genus from illegal collection (Confiscation List (2018-2022) provided by Cape Nature, SANParks Sendelingsdrift Botanic Garden, SANBI Kirstenbosch Botanical Garden and Karoo Desert Botanic Garden). 

Foden, W. & Potter, L. 2005. Pelargonium xerophyton Schltr. ex R.Knuth. National Assessment: Red List of South African Plants version 2020.1.