Gethyllis britteniana subsp. herrei | SANBI Sensitive Species

Assessor: Sarah Schumann

Sensitive in 2010

Family

Amaryllidaceae

Reason for the sensitivity status

This subspecies is threatened by over-collecting of its fruits for food and medicinal purposes. Several species of this genus have been targeted and confiscated from illegal plant collecting. A small population size with existing threat causing population decline makes this taxon vulnerable to further population loss. Were exploitation to also occur, recruitment and recovery may be poor. Releasing data on this taxon 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 known from two locations that is threatened with habitat degradation and over-collecting of fruits for food and medicinal purposes (Snijman & Raimondo, 2015). Plants of this genus were among those targeted and/or confiscated during recent criminal prosecutions of illegal plant collecting (Confiscation Lists (2016-2021) provided by Cape Nature, SANParks Sendelingsdrift Botanic Garden, Karoo Desert Botanic Garden and Kirstenbosch Botanical Garden). This suggests that this genus is being targeted and that this species may be at risk.

Snijman, D.A. & Raimondo, D. 2015. Gethyllis britteniana Baker subsp. herrei (L.Bolus) D.Müll.-Doblies. 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 is range restricted, known from two locations and occurs as small, scattered subpopulations (Snijman & Raimondo, 2015).

Snijman, D.A. & Raimondo, D. 2015. Gethyllis britteniana Baker subsp. herrei (L.Bolus) D.Müll.-Doblies. 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.

Justification and references

Fruits are collected and could have a negative impact on the persistence of the species (Snijman & Raimondo, 2015).

Snijman, D.A. & Raimondo, D. 2015. Gethyllis britteniana Baker subsp. herrei (L.Bolus) D.Müll.-Doblies. National Assessment: Red List of South African Plants version 2020.1.

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

Two known locations and ongoing threats of exploitation and habitat degradation places the persistence of this taxon at risk whereby recruitment and recovery may be poor.

Reference file

Gethyllis britteniana herrei Threatened Species Programme _ SANBI Red List of South African Plants.pdf553.65 KB

Gethyllis search results.pdf833.3 KB