Siphonochilus aethiopicus | SANBI Sensitive Species

Assessor: Sarah Schumann

Sensitive in 2010

Yes

Family

Zingiberaceae

Reason for the sensitivity status

This species is severely threatened by the harvesting of wild individuals for traditional medicinal plant trade that is causing population decline that can lead to its extinction. This species was among those targeted and confiscated from illegal plant collecting. A small remaining population size with existing threats including over-harvesting makes this species vulnerable to further population loss. Recruitment and recovery may be poor.

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 severely threatened by the harvesting of wild individuals for traditional medicinal plant trade that is causing population decline that can lead to its extinction (Lötter et al. 2006). This taxon is thought to be the most sought after, targeted and most scarce medicinal plant at South African medicinal trade markets (Cunningham, 1993; Williams et al. 2000). This species was among those targeted and confiscated from illegal plant collecting (Confiscation Lists (2019-2021) Cape Nature). This suggests that this this species is being targeted and may be at risk to over-exploitation.

Cunningham, A.B. 1993. African medicinal plants: setting priorities at the interface between conservation and primary health care. People and Plants working paper 1. UNESCO, Paris.

Lötter, M., Burrows, J.E. & von Staden, L. 2006. Siphonochilus aethiopicus (Schweinf.) B.L.Burtt. National Assessment: Red List of South African Plants version 2020.1.

Williams, V.L., Balkwill, K. and Witkowski, E.T.F. 2000. Unravelling the commercial market for medicinal plants and plant parts on the Witwatersrand, South Africa. Economic Botany 54(3):310-327.

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's extent of occurrence has been reduced by 90% in the past 100 years, its subpopulations in Mpumalanga have declined by 84% in 4 years and its remaining population is thought to be critically low with 60% of remaining subpopulations containing less than 100 mature individuals (Lötter et al. 2006).

Lötter, M., Burrows, J.E. & von Staden, L. 2006. Siphonochilus aethiopicus (Schweinf.) B.L.Burtt. 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

Harvesting is indicated to be destructive and unstainable (Lötter et al. 2006).

Lötter, M., Burrows, J.E. & von Staden, L. 2006. Siphonochilus aethiopicus (Schweinf.) B.L.Burtt. 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 ongoing threat of exploitation as well as reduction in population and occurrence (Lötter et al. 2006), places this species at risk of extinction.

Lötter, M., Burrows, J.E. & von Staden, L. 2006. Siphonochilus aethiopicus (Schweinf.) B.L.Burtt. National Assessment: Red List of South African Plants version 2020.1.

Reference file

Siphonochilus aethiopicus Threatened Species Programme _ SANBI Red List of South African Plants.pdf741.72 KB