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Eucomis vandermerwei

Assessor: Sarah Schumann

Sensitive in 2010
No
Family
Hyacinthaceae
Reason for the sensitivity status
This species is known to be harvested for medicinal purposes. This genus is in demand and of popular interest in international horticultural trade. Species of this genus were recorded in confiscations of illegal plant. Few subpopulations with existing threats including exploitation causing population decline, places the persistence of this species at risk. 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 Vulnerable as it is known from few locations that are experiencing population decline due to harvesting for medicinal purposes, habitat loss, and degradation (Lötter et al. 2018). Another species of this genus is known to be threatened by harvesting of bulbs from the wild for medicinal purposes (Williams et al. 2016, Williams et al. 2007). This genus is in demand and of popular interest in international horticultural trade, as indicated by several online marketplace, e-commerce and auction sites. Species of this genus were recorded in confiscations of illegal plant collecting multiple times (Confiscation lists (2010-2021) provided by SANBI Karoo Desert Botanical Garden and Cape Nature). This suggests that this genus may be targeted and that this species may be at risk to over-exploitation and removal from the wild.

Lötter, M., Burrows, J.E. & von Staden, L. 2018. Eucomis vandermerwei I.Verd. National Assessment: Red List of South African Plants version 2020.1. 

Williams, V.L., Raimondo, D., Crouch, N.R., Cunningham, A.B., Scott-Shaw, C.R., Lötter, M. & Ngwenya, A.M. 2016. Eucomis autumnalis (Mill.) Chitt. National Assessment: Red List of South African Plants version 2020.1. 

Williams, V.L., Balkwill, K. and Witkowski, E.T.F. 2007. Size-class prevalence of bulbous and perennial herbs sold in the Johannesburg medicinal plant markets between 1995 and 2001. South African Journal of Botany 73(1):144-155.

Williams, V.L., Witkowski, T.F. 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):584-603.

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 2726 km² and is known from eight locations with six extant subpopulations and an estimated population size of 2400 individuals (Lötter et al. 2018).

Lötter, M., Burrows, J.E. & von Staden, L. 2018. Eucomis vandermerwei I.Verd. 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

Bulbs 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 of occurrence with existing threats including exploitation (Lötter et al. 2018), places the persistence of this species at risk. Recruitment and recovery may be poor.

Lötter, M., Burrows, J.E. & von Staden, L. 2018. Eucomis vandermerwei I.Verd. National Assessment: Red List of South African Plants version 2020.1. 

Reference file
eucomis _ eBay.pdf607.49 KB
Eucomis vandermerwei Threatened Species Programme _ SANBI Red List of South African Plants.pdf791.77 KB