Tylecodon pusillus | SANBI Sensitive Species

Assessor: Sarah Schumann

Sensitive in 2010

Family

Crassulaceae

Reason for the sensitivity status

This taxon is sensitive as it has a small population size that is potentially threatened by illegal collection of wild individuals. 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 known location of occurrence. 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 known from four locations and is potentially threatened by habitat degradation and collection of wild individuals for the succulent trade (von Staden, 2015). 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 were among those targeted and/or confiscated during recent criminal prosecutions of illegal plant collecting (Confiscation Lists (2020-2021) 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 vulnerable species may be at risk to over-exploitation and removal from the wild.

von Staden, L. 2015. Tylecodon pusillus Bruyns. 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 370 km² and is known from four locations (von Staden, 2015).

von Staden, L. 2015. Tylecodon pusillus Bruyns. 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

Few known locations and several potential existing threats (von Staden, 2015), places the persistence of this species at risk. Were exploitation to also occur, recruitment and recovery may be poor.

von Staden, L. 2015. Tylecodon pusillus Bruyns. National Assessment: Red List of South African Plants version 2020.1.

Reference file

Tylecodon pusillus Threatened Species Programme _ SANBI Red List of South African Plants.pdf535.29 KB

tylecodon _ eBay.pdf898.51 KB

Tylecodon Aucfan.pdf1.17 MB