Crinum lineare | SANBI Sensitive Species

Assessor: Sarah Schumann

Sensitive in 2010

Family

Amaryllidaceae

Reason for the sensitivity status

This species is known to be harvested for the medicinal plant trade. Traders of Crinium species are not thought to differentiate between species and so the genus is being targeted and under threat of over-exploitation. Small and fragmented subpopulations with existing threats causing population decline makes this species vulnerable to further population loss. Were exploitation to also occur, recruitment and recovery may be poor. Releasing data on this species could exacerbate threat and vulnerability.

This species is either similar to 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 experiencing ongoing population decline due to harvesting of wild individuals for the medicinal plant trade as well as predation (Dold et al. 2007). Research has indicated the utilization of this species and others from the Crinium genus in medicinal trade (Cunningham, 1988; Williams et al. 2013). Traders of Crinium 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).

Cunningham, A.B. 1988. An investigation of the herbal medicine trade in Natal/KwaZulu. Investigational Report No. 29. Institute of Natural Resources, Pietermaritzburg.

Dold, A.P., Berrington, W., Snijman, D.A., Raimondo, D. & Victor, J.E. 2007. Crinum lineare L.f. National Assessment: Red List of South African Plants version 2020.1.

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.

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 4600 km² and occurs in small, fragmented subpopulations with a declining population size (Dold et al. 2007).

Dold, A.P., Berrington, W., Snijman, D.A., Raimondo, D. & Victor, J.E. 2007. Crinum lineare L.f. National Assessment: Red List of South African Plants version 2020.1.

Targeted demographics

Unknown.

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

Small and fragmented subpopulations with existing threats (Dold et al. 2007), places the persistence of this species at risk. Were exploitation to also occur, recruitment and recovery may be poor.

Dold, A.P., Berrington, W., Snijman, D.A., Raimondo, D. & Victor, J.E. 2007. Crinum lineare L.f. National Assessment: Red List of South African Plants version 2020.1.

Reference file

Crinum lineare Threatened Species Programme _ SANBI Red List of South African Plants.pdf739.2 KB