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Cyclopia plicata

Assessor: Sarah Schumann

Sensitive in 2010
Yes
Family
Fabaceae
Reason for the sensitivity status
This species is experiencing population decline due to honey bush tea harvesting. A declining population size with existing threat causing population decline 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 range restricted and four of its known locations are experiencing population decline due to honey bush tea harvesting and altered fire regimes (Vlok & Raimondo, 2011). 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). 

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

Vlok, J.H. & Raimondo, D. 2011. Cyclopia plicata Kies. National Assessment: Red List of South African Plants version 2020.1.

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 219 km² and the population trend is decreasing with no regrowth observed from this reseeding species after harvesting (Vlok & Raimondo, 2011).

Vlok, J.H. & Raimondo, D. 2011. Cyclopia plicata Kies. 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

No regrowth has been observed from this reseeding species after harvesting (Vlok & Raimondo, 2011).

Vlok, J.H. & Raimondo, D. 2011. Cyclopia plicata Kies. 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

Severe threat and ongoing decline in population from harvesting with no regrowth from reseeders, lowers the chances of this species recruitment and recovery of wild individuals, placing the persistence of this species at risk.

Reference file
Cyclopia plicata Threatened Species Programme _ SANBI Red List of South African Plants.pdf826.11 KB