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Cyrtanthus herrei

Assessor: Sarah Schumann

Sensitive in 2010
No
Family
Amaryllidaceae
Reason for the sensitivity status
This species is declining due to illegal collection of wild individuals for the specialist horticultural trade. This genus is in demand and of popular interest in international horticultural trade. Existing exploitation causing population decline makes this species vulnerable to population loss. Recruitment and recovery from harvesting my 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 Near Threatened as it is fairly common but declining due to illegal collection of wild individuals for the specialist horticultural trade (Snijman et al. 2015). This genus is in demand and of popular interest in international horticultural trade, as indicated by several online marketplace, e-commerce and auction sites. This species and other plants of this genus were among those targeted and confiscated during recent criminal prosecutions of illegal plant collecting (Confiscation List (2022) provided by SANBI Kirstenbosch Botanical Garden. This suggests that this species may be targeted and that this species may be at risk.

Snijman, D.A., Raimondo, D. & von Staden, L. 2015. Cyrtanthus herrei (F.M.Leight.) 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 1860 km², is known from between 10 and 20 locations and is thought to be fairly common but subpopulations tend to be small and declining  (Snijman et al. 2015).

Snijman, D.A., Raimondo, D. & von Staden, L. 2015. Cyrtanthus herrei (F.M.Leight.) 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.
Justification and references

Mature bulbs are advertised for sale (Snijman et al. 2015).

Snijman, D.A., Raimondo, D. & von Staden, L. 2015. Cyrtanthus herrei (F.M.Leight.) R.A.Dyer. National Assessment: Red List of South African Plants version 2020.1.

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

This species is long lived and slow growing (Snijman et al. 2015).

Snijman, D.A., Raimondo, D. & von Staden, L. 2015. Cyrtanthus herrei (F.M.Leight.) R.A.Dyer. National Assessment: Red List of South African Plants version 2020.1.

Reference file
cyrtanthus _ eBay.pdf1.05 MB
Cyrtanthus Aucfan.pdf1.01 MB
Cyrtanthus herrei Threatened Species Programme _ SANBI Red List of South African Plants.pdf550.94 KB