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Portulacaria pygmaea

Assessor: Sarah Schumann

Sensitive in 2010
No
Family
Didiereaceae
Reason for the sensitivity status
Wild individuals of this species is known to be collected for horticultural trade. This genus is currently in demand and of popular interest in international horticultural trade. Few known locations and several existing threats including exploitation places the persistence of this species at risk whereby 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 population decline due to habitat loss, degradation and collection of wild individuals for horticultural trade (von Staden & van Wyk, 2015). This genus is currently in demand and of popular interest in international horticultural trade, as indicated by several online marketplace, e-commerce and auction sites. This species and others of the genus were among those targeted and confiscated during recent criminal prosecutions of illegal plant collecting (Confiscation Lists (2021-2022) provided by SANBI Kirstenbosch and Pretoria Botanical Gardens). This suggests that this genus may be targeted and that endangered species of this genus may be at risk to collection and removal from the wild.

von Staden, L. & Van Wyk, P.C.V. 2015. Portulacaria pygmaea Pillans. 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 known from five locations and has an extent of occurrence of 1196 km² (von Staden & van Wyk, 2015).

von Staden, L. & Van Wyk, P.C.V. 2015. Portulacaria pygmaea Pillans. 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

Whole individuals are removed from the wild.

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

Few known locations and several existing threats including exploitation (von Staden & van Wyk, 2015), places the persistence of this species at risk whereby recruitment and recovery may be poor.

von Staden, L. & Van Wyk, P.C.V. 2015. Portulacaria pygmaea Pillans. National Assessment: Red List of South African Plants version 2020.1.

Reference file
portulacaria _ eBay.pdf929.66 KB
Portulacaria Rakuten.pdf424.4 KB
Portulacaria pygmaea Threatened Species Programme _ SANBI Red List of South African Plants.pdf630.12 KB