Bulbine vitrea | SANBI Sensitive Species

Assessor: Sarah Schumann

Sensitive in 2010

Family

Asphodelaceae

Reason for the sensitivity status

This species is known to be threatened with illegal collection. Several others of the genus are known to be targeted, exploited and illegally removed from the wild, causing population decline. Evidence shows that the Bulbine genus is in high demand in international horticultural trade. Few known locations of occurrence makes this species highly vulnerable to population loss. Releasing data on this species can 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 rare, range restricted and threatened with collection of wild individuals for the specialist horticultural trade (Van Wyk & Raimondo, 2015, A. Harrower, personal communication, 3 August 2022). This genus and unusual species is in demand and of popular interest in international horticultural trade, as indicated by several online marketplace, e-commerce and auction sites. Plants of this genus were among those targeted and/or confiscated during recent criminal prosecutions of illegal plant collecting. There have been several recorded confiscations of species of the Bulbine genus from illegal collection (Confiscation List (2019-2021) provided by Cape Nature, SANParks Sendelingsdrift Botanic Garden, and Karoo Desert Botanic Garden and Kirstenbosch Botanic Garden). This suggests that this genus is being targeted and that this species may be at risk.

Van Wyk, P.C.V. & Raimondo, D. 2015. Bulbine vitrea G.Will. & Baijnath. 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 300 km² and is known from two locations (Van Wyk & Raimondo, 2015).

Van Wyk, P.C.V. & Raimondo, D. 2015. Bulbine vitrea G.Will. & Baijnath. 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

There is evidence of illegal collecting of wild individuals at one of the two sites (Van Wyk & Raimondo, 2015).

Van Wyk, P.C.V. & Raimondo, D. 2015. Bulbine vitrea G.Will. & Baijnath. 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

Range restriction and endemism makes this species vulnerable to population loss.

Reference file

Bulbine vitrea Threatened Species Programme _ SANBI Red List of South African Plants.pdf625.81 KB

Bulbine.pdf870.42 KB

bulbine_ Search Result .pdf1.68 MB