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Clivia mirabilis

Assessor: Sarah Schumann

Sensitive in 2010
No
Family
Amaryllidaceae
Reason for the sensitivity status
This species is sensitive as it is known from few locations that are potentially threatened with harvesting of wild individuals for horticultural and medicinal plant trade. Clivia traders are not thought to differentiate between species, making the genus vulnerable to exploitation. This species is vulnerable to population loss and were exploitation to occur, recovery may be poor. Releasing data on this species can exacerbate threat and vulnerability.
This species is either similar to another sensitive species or belongs to a group containing sensitive species, and is extremely rare in the wild. The localities of wild populations need to be protected to avoid loss to exploitation, which, due to its rarity, could drive the species to extinction within a very short time.
Exploitation extent
Uncertain - No data exists yet showing that this species is exploited in the wild, however it has one or more relatives or look-alike species (found in South Africa or globally) that are known to be utilised. This species has a similar life form or other relevant traits to its exploited relative(s), making it highly likely that it would be exploited for the same purposes.
Justification and references

According to the SANBI Red List Assessment, this species is Vulnerable as it is known from two locations that are potentially threatened with collection for horticultural purposes as well as genetic contamination due to hybridization (Snijman & Victor, 2004). Several research papers have indicated the utilization of Clivia species in medicinal trade (Williams et al. 2007; Williams et al. 2013; Mbongwa et al. 2021). Traders of Clivia species are not thought to differentiate between species and so the genus is being targeted and under threat of over-exploitation (Williams et al. 2008).

Mbongwa, N.S., Twine, W.C. and Williams, V.L., 2021. Medicinal plant cultivation: Beliefs and perceptions of traditional healers and muthi traders in KwaZulu-Natal and Gauteng, South Africa. South African Journal of Botany, 143, pp.123-132.

Williams, V.L., Witkowski, E.T. and Balkwill, K., 2007. Volume and financial value of species traded in the medicinal plant markets of Gauteng, South Africa. International journal of sustainable development & world ecology, 14(6), pp.584-603.

Williams, V.L., Victor, J.E. and Crouch, N.R., 2013. Red listed medicinal plants of South Africa: status, trends, and assessment challenges. South African Journal of Botany, 86, pp.23-35.

Snijman, D.A. & Victor, J.E. 2004. Clivia mirabilis Rourke. 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 locations (Snijman & Victor, 2004).

Snijman, D.A. & Victor, J.E. 2004. Clivia mirabilis Rourke. 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

The over-harvesting and trade of Clivia's is a threat to the persistence of populations in the wild (Williams et al. 2008). Clivia species are among the slowest growing in the Amaryllidaceae genus (Williams et al. 2008). 
The harvesting of individuals and flowers lowers chances of recruitment and recovery.

Snijman, D.A. & Victor, J.E. 2004. Clivia mirabilis Rourke. National Assessment: Red List of South African Plants version 2020.1. 

Williams, V.L., Raimondo, D., Crouch, N.R., Cunningham, A.B., Scott-Shaw, C.R., Lötter, M. & Ngwenya, A.M. 2008. Clivia gardenii Hook. National Assessment: Red List of South African Plants version 2020.1

Reference file
Clivia mirabilis Threatened Species Programme _ SANBI Red List of South African Plants.pdf707.16 KB
clivia_ Search Result _ eBay.pdf1.28 MB