Clivia nobilis | SANBI Sensitive Species

Assessor: Sarah Schumann

Sensitive in 2010

Yes

Family

Amaryllidaceae

Reason for the sensitivity status

This species is sensitive as it is threatened with harvesting of wild individuals for horticultural and medicinal plant trade, causing population decline. Clivia traders are not thought to differentiate between species, making the genus vulnerable to exploitation. As this species has a small population size and is slow growing, over-harvesting is a threat to the persistence of this species. Releasing data on this species can 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 ongoing population decline due to harvesting of wild individuals for the horticultural and medicinal plant trade as well as habitat loss (Williams et al. 2008). Several research papers have indicated the utilization of Clivia species in medicinal trade (Williams et al. 2007; Williams et al. 2013; Mbongwa et al. 2021). Traders of Clivia species are not thought to differentiate between species and so the genus is being targeted and under threat of over-exploitation (Williams et al. 2008). This species is less desirable to collectors as it is the slowest growing of the Clivia's and so remains more threatened by over-exploitation for medicinal purposes (Williams et al. 2008).

Mbongwa, N.S., Twine, W.C. and Williams, V.L., 2021. Medicinal plant cultivation: Beliefs and perceptions of traditional healers and muthi traders in KwaZulu-Natal and Gauteng, South Africa. South African Journal of Botany, 143, pp.123-132.

Williams, V.L., Witkowski, E.T. and Balkwill, K., 2007. Volume and financial value of species traded in the medicinal plant markets of Gauteng, South Africa. International journal of sustainable development & world ecology, 14(6), pp.584-603.

Williams, V.L., Raimondo, D., Crouch, N.R., Cunningham, A.B., Scott-Shaw, C.R., Lötter, M., Ngwenya, A.M., Rourke, P., Snijman, D.A., Dold, A.P. & Victor, J.E. 2008. Clivia nobilis Lindl. National Assessment: Red List of South African Plants version 2020.1.

Williams, V.L., Victor, J.E. and Crouch, N.R., 2013. Red listed medicinal plants of South Africa: status, trends, and assessment challenges. South African Journal of Botany, 86, pp.23-35.

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's population has declined by 30% in the past 120 years (3 generations) (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

Whole individuals are harvested from the wild (Williams et al. 2008; Willams et al. 2007).

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

The over-harvesting and trade of Clivia's is a threat to the persistence of populations in the wild (Williams et al. 2008). Clivia species are among the slowest growing in the Amaryllidaceae genus (Williams et al. 2008). The harvesting of individualslowers chances of recruitment and recovery.

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

Reference file

Clivia nobilis Threatened Species Programme _ SANBI Red List of South African Plants.pdf613.59 KB

clivia_ Search Result _ eBay.pdf1.28 MB