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Ledebouria rupestris

Assessor: Sarah Schumann

Sensitive in 2010
No
Family
Hyacinthaceae
Reason for the sensitivity status
This species is is threatened by illegal plant collecting. This genus is in demand and of popular interest in international horticultural trade and medicinal trade. Several species of this genus were among those targeted and confiscated during criminal prosecutions of illegal plant collecting. A small population size with existing threats makes this taxon 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 Critically Endangered as it is known from a single location that is threatened by ongoing habitat degradation and illegal plant collecting (Lötter & von Staden, 2016). This genus is currently in demand and of popular interest in international horticultural trade, as indicated by several online marketplace, e-commerce and auction sites. Ledebouria ovatifolia is a typically popular species in ethnomedicinal plant trade (Crouch et al. 2007). Several species of this genus were among those targeted and/or confiscated during recent criminal prosecutions of illegal plant collecting (Confiscation lists (2019-2021) provided by SANBI Karoo Desert Botanical Garden and Kirstenbosch Botanical Garden). This suggests that this genus may be targeted and that endangered species may be at risk to over-exploitation.

Crouch, N.R., Edwards, T.J. and Beaumont, A. 2007. Ledebouria ovatifolia subsp. scabrida. Flowering Plants of Africa 60:14-19.

Lötter, M. & von Staden, L. 2016. Ledebouria rupestris (Van der Merwe) S.Venter. 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 less than 1 km² and is known from a single location (Lötter & von Staden, 2016).

Lötter, M. & von Staden, L. 2016. Ledebouria rupestris (Van der Merwe) S.Venter. 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

Whole individuals are collected (Lötter & von Staden, 2016).

Lötter, M. & von Staden, L. 2016. Ledebouria rupestris (Van der Merwe) S.Venter. 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

A single known locality and existing threats of degradation and exploitation (Lötter & von Staden, 2016), places the persistence of this species at risk whereby recruitment and recovery may be poor.

Lötter, M. & von Staden, L. 2016. Ledebouria rupestris (Van der Merwe) S.Venter. National Assessment: Red List of South African Plants version 2020.1. 

Reference file
ledebouria _ eBay.pdf509.99 KB
Ledebouria aucfan.pdf484.93 KB
Ledebouria rupestris Threatened Species Programme _ SANBI Red List of South African Plants.pdf550.58 KB