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Cyclopia bolusii

Assessor: Sarah Schumann

Sensitive in 2010
No
Family
Fabaceae
Reason for the sensitivity status
This species is potentially threatened by harvesting of wild individuals. Other species in this genus are known to be utilized for honey bush tea and are threatened by collection of wild individuals. A small population size with potential threat this species vulnerable to further population loss. 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
Small or insignificant - wild individuals of the species are known to be exploited, collected, traded or utilized in a targeted manner, but utilisation is localised and/or affects only a small proportion of the wild population.
Justification and references

According to the SANBI Red List Assessment, this species is Vulnerable as it is has a small population size that is range restricted and is potentially threatened by harvesting of wild individuals and habitat loss (Raimondo & Schutte-Vlok, 2014). Other species in this genus are known to be utilized for honey bush tea and are threatened by collection of wild individuals (Mei, 2016; Vlok & Raimondo, 2011). 

Raimondo, D. & Schutte-Vlok, A.L. 2014. Cyclopia bolusii Hofmeyr & E.Phillips. National Assessment: Red List of South African Plants version 2020.1. 

Mei, Nomama. 2016. PlantZAfrica. Cyclopia meyeriana Walp. Available at: http://pza.sanbi.org/cyclopia-meyeriana.

Vlok, J.H. & Raimondo, D. 2011. Cyclopia alopecuroides A.L.Schutte. 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 estimated population size of less than 1000 mature individuals with small subpopulations consisting of less than 10 mature individuals each and has an extent of occurrence of 710 km² (Raimondo & Schutte-Vlok, 2014).

Raimondo, D. & Schutte-Vlok, A.L. 2014. Cyclopia bolusii Hofmeyr & E.Phillips. 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

A small population size with potential threat this species vulnerable to further population loss. Recruitment and recovery from harvesting may be poor.

Reference file
Cyclopia bolusii Threatened Species Programme _ SANBI Red List of South African Plants.pdf737.3 KB