Back to search results

Monsonia speciosa

Assessor: Sarah Schumann

Sensitive in 2010
No
Family
Geraniaceae
Reason for the sensitivity status
This species is threatened by harvesting of wild individuals. Plants of this genus were among those targeted and confiscated during criminal prosecutions of illegal plant collecting. A reduced population size with existing threats including harvesting makes this species vulnerable to further population loss. Recruitment and recovery may be poor.
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 has lost more than half of its population and habitat to agriculture and urban development as well as being threatened by alien invasive plants, harvesting of wild individuals and pollution (Raimondo et al. 2007). Plants of this genus were among those targeted and/or confiscated during recent criminal prosecutions of illegal plant collecting.

Raimondo, D., Turner, R.C. & Snijman, D.A. 2007. Monsonia speciosa L. 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's population has declined by more than 50% in the past 80 years (Raimondo et al. 2007).

Raimondo, D., Turner, R.C. & Snijman, D.A. 2007. Monsonia speciosa L. 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

A reduced population and presiding threats places the persistence of this species at risk.

Reference file
Monsonia speciosa Threatened Species Programme _ SANBI Red List of South African Plants.pdf601.98 KB