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Tylecodon decipiens

Assessor: Sarah Schumann

Sensitive in 2010
No
Family
Crassulaceae
Reason for the sensitivity status
This taxon is sensitive as it has a small population size and is not known to be threatened by illegal collection of wild individuals but there is evidence that this genus is being targeted and exploited for horticultural trade with individuals from several species being illegally removed. Were exploitation to take place, recruitment and recovery may be poor due to its few subpopulations and restricted range. 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 Rare as it is highly range restricted, known from two sites and is not thought to be threatened (van Jaarsveld et al. 2007). 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. Plants of this genus are known to be utilized and this species and several others were among those targeted and confiscated during recent criminal prosecutions of illegal plant collecting (Confiscation Lists (2020-2022) provided by Cape Nature, SANBI Kirstenbosch Botanical Garden, SANBI Karoo Desert Botanic Garden, SANParks Sendelingsdrift Botanic Garden and Department of Forestry, Fisheries and the Environment). This suggests that this genus may be targeted and that rare species may be at risk to over-exploitation and removal from the wild.

van Jaarsveld, E.J., Raimondo, D. & Desmet, P.G. 2007. Tylecodon decipiens Toelken. 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 is known from two sites and has an extent of occurrence of less than 3 km² (van Jaarsveld et al. 2007).

van Jaarsveld, E.J., Raimondo, D. & Desmet, P.G. 2007. Tylecodon decipiens Toelken. 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.
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 few known sites of occurrence with known exploitation (van Jaarsveld et al. 2007) makes this species highly vulnerable to population loss whereby recruitment and recovery may be poor.

van Jaarsveld, E.J., Raimondo, D. & Desmet, P.G. 2007. Tylecodon decipiens Toelken. National Assessment: Red List of South African Plants version 2020.1.

Reference file
Tylecodon decipiens Threatened Species Programme _ SANBI Red List of South African Plants.pdf532.45 KB
tylecodon _ eBay.pdf898.51 KB
Tylecodon Aucfan.pdf1.17 MB