Brachystelma incanum | SANBI Sensitive Species

Assessor: Sarah Schumann

Sensitive in 2010

Family

Apocynaceae

Reason for the sensitivity status

This species is known to be collected from the wild. This genus is in demand and of popular interest in international horticultural trade. There have been recorded confiscations of species of the Brachystelma genus from illegal collection. Few known locations with several threats including collection causing population decline, makes this species vulnerable to further population size. 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 Vulnerable as it is known from few locations that is declining due to habitat loss, degradation and collection from the wild whereby one subpopulation is known to have been cleared (Hahn & von Staden, 2016). This genus is in demand and of popular interest in international horticultural trade, as indicated by several online marketplace, e commerce and auction sites. There have been recorded confiscations of species of the Brachystelma genus from illegal collection (2019 confiscation data provided by the Environmental Enforcement Fusion Centre at the Department of Forestry, Fisheries and the Environment). This suggests that this genus is being targeted and that this species may be at risk from collection and removal from the wild.

Hahn, N. & von Staden, L. 2016. Brachystelma incanum R.A.Dyer. 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 13 374 km² and is known from less than 10 locations with a declining population size (Hahn & von Staden, 2016).

Hahn, N. & von Staden, L. 2016. Brachystelma incanum R.A.Dyer. 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 with several threats including collection (Hahn & von Staden, 2016), places the persistence of this species at risk whereby recruitment and recovery may be poor.

Hahn, N. & von Staden, L. 2016. Brachystelma incanum R.A.Dyer. National Assessment: Red List of South African Plants version 2020.1.

Reference file

Brachystelma Aucfan.pdf1.99 MB

Brachystelma incanum Threatened Species Programme _ SANBI Red List of South African Plants.pdf553.01 KB