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Cheiridopsis pearsonii

Assessor: Sarah Schumann

Sensitive in 2010
No
Family
Aizoaceae
Reason for the sensitivity status
This species is threatened by collection of wild individuals for the specialist succulent horticultural trade. Several species of the Cheiridopsis genus were among those targeted and confiscated during criminal prosecutions of illegal plant collecting. Few known locations and existing threats causing population decline makes this species vulnerable to further population loss. Recruitment and recovery from harvesting 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 Endangered as it is range restricted and experiencing ongoing population decline due to habitat loss, degradation and collection of wild individuals for the specialist succulent horticultural trade (Klak & Raimondo, 2006). This genus is in demand and of popular interest in international horticultural trade, as indicated by several online marketplace, e-commerce and auction sites. This species and several others of the Cheiridopsis genus were among those targeted and/or confiscated during recent criminal prosecutions of illegal plant collecting (Confiscation Lists (2021) provided by SANParks Sendelingsdrift Botanic Garden and Kirstenbosch Botanical Garden). This suggests that this genus may be targeted and that this species can be at risk to over-collection and removal from the wild.

Klak, C. & Raimondo, D. 2006. Cheiridopsis pearsonii N.E.Br. 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 less than 100 km² and is known from five locations (Klak & Raimondo, 2006).

Klak, C. & Raimondo, D. 2006. Cheiridopsis pearsonii N.E.Br. National Assessment: Red List of South African Plants version 2020.1. 

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.
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

Range restriction, few known locations and several ongoing threats including exploitation (Klak & Raimondo, 2006), places the persistence of this species at risk whereby recruitment and recovery may be poor.

Klak, C. & Raimondo, D. 2006. Cheiridopsis pearsonii N.E.Br. National Assessment: Red List of South African Plants version 2020.1. 

Reference file
cheiridopsis _ eBay.pdf1002.78 KB
Cheiridopsis aucfan.pdf966.32 KB
Cheiridopsis pearsonii Threatened Species Programme _ SANBI Red List of South African Plants.pdf779.16 KB