Begonia homonyma | SANBI Sensitive Species

Assessor: Sarah Schumann

Sensitive in 2010

Yes

Family

Begoniaceae

Reason for the sensitivity status

This species is experiencing ongoing population decline due to harvesting for traditional medicinal trade. A small population size with existing threat makes this species vulnerable to further population loss. 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 experiencing ongoing population decline due to harvesting for traditional medicinal trade (Williams et al. 2008). Caudices have been recorded at traditional medicinal markets (Cunningham, 1998; Von Ahlefeldt et al. 2003)

Cunningham, A.B. 1988. An investigation of the herbal medicine trade in Natal/KwaZulu. Investigational Report No. 29. Institute of Natural Resources, Pietermaritzburg.

Von Ahlefeldt, D., Crouch, N.R., Nichols, G., Symmonds, R., McKean, S., Sibiya, H. and Cele, M.P. 2003. Medicinal plants traded on South Africa's eastern seabord. Porcupine Press, Durban.

Williams, V.L., Crouch, N.R., McLellan, T. & von Staden, L. 2008. Begonia homonyma Steud. 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

Population size is estimated at less than 2500 individuals with nice small subpopulations (Williams et al. 2008).

Williams, V.L., Crouch, N.R., McLellan, T. & von Staden, L. 2008. Begonia homonyma Steud. 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

Caudices are harvested and is resulting in subsequent population decline (Williams et al. 2008; Cunningham, 1998; Von Ahlefeldt et al. 2003)

Cunningham, A.B. 1988. An investigation of the herbal medicine trade in Natal/KwaZulu. Investigational Report No. 29. Institute of Natural Resources, Pietermaritzburg.

Von Ahlefeldt, D., Crouch, N.R., Nichols, G., Symmonds, R., McKean, S., Sibiya, H. and Cele, M.P. 2003. Medicinal plants traded on South Africa's eastern seabord. Porcupine Press, Durban.

Williams, V.L., Crouch, N.R., McLellan, T. & von Staden, L. 2008. Begonia homonyma Steud. 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

Small subpopulations with ongoing harvesting results in lower chances of recruitment and recovery.

Reference file

Begonia homonyma Threatened Species Programme _ SANBI Red List of South African Plants.pdf559.13 KB