Cyclopia burtonii | SANBI Sensitive Species

Assessor: Sarah Schumann

Sensitive in 2010

Family

Fabaceae

Reason for the sensitivity status

This species is potentially threatened by tea harvesting. A small population size with potential threat causing population decline makes this species vulnerable to further population loss. Were exploitation to also occur, recruitment and recovery 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 Vulnerable as it is range restricted, known from four locations with a small population that is potentially threatened by tea harvesting (Schutte-Vlok & Daniels, 2018). Other species in this genus are known to be utilized for honey bush tea and are threatened by collection of wild individuals (Mei, 2016; Vlok & Raimondo, 2011).

Schutte-Vlok, A.L. & Daniels, F. 2018. Cyclopia burtonii Hofmeyr & E.Phillips. National Assessment: Red List of South African Plants version 2020.1.

Mei, Nomama. 2016. PlantZAfrica. Cyclopia meyeriana Walp. Available at: http://pza.sanbi.org/cyclopia-meyeriana.

Vlok, J.H. & Raimondo, D. 2011. Cyclopia alopecuroides A.L.Schutte. 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 172 km², is known from four locations and has an estimated population size of less than 1000 mature individuals (Schutte-Vlok & Daniels, 2018).

Schutte-Vlok, A.L. & Daniels, F. 2018. Cyclopia burtonii Hofmeyr & E.Phillips. 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

Few known locations, a small population and potential threat places the persistence of this species at risk. The population growth rate is unknown. Population size is small and likely to be limited by suitable habitat. Should exploitation occur, even if only cuttings or leaves are collected, compounded with harvesting for tea which have been identified as threats and few known locations of occurrence, the chance of populations recovering may be poor (Schutte-Vlok & Daniels, 2018).

Schutte-Vlok, A.L. & Daniels, F. 2018. Cyclopia burtonii Hofmeyr & E.Phillips. National Assessment: Red List of South African Plants version 2020.1.

Reference file

Cyclopia burtonii Threatened Species Programme _ SANBI Red List of South African Plants.pdf643.75 KB