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Gasteria armstrongii

Assessor: Sarah Schumann

Sensitive in 2010
No
Family
Asphodelaceae
Reason for the sensitivity status
This species is threatened with wild harvesting and is known to be horticulturally sought after. Several others of the genus are known to be targeted, exploited and illegally removed from the wild, causing population decline. Evidence shows that the Gasteria genus is in high demand in international horticultural trade. Few known locations of occurrence makes this species highly vulnerable to population loss. Releasing data on this species can 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 Critically Endangered as it is known from a single, small subpopulation that is threatened with habitat loss, degradation, and collection of wild individuals for the horticultural trade (van Jaarsveld et al. 2015). This genus is currently in demand and of popular interest in international horticultural trade, as indicated by several online marketplace, e-commerce and auction sites. Several species of the Gasteria genus were among those targeted and confiscated during recent criminal prosecutions of illegal plant collecting (Confiscation Lists (2021) provided by SANParks Sendelingsdrift Botanic Garden and Kirstenbosch Botanical Garden). 

van Jaarsveld, E.J., Raimondo, D., Logie, C. & von Staden, L. 2015. Gasteria armstrongii Schönland. 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 9 km² and is known from a single subpopulation with an estimated population size of less than 500 individuals (van Jaarsveld et al. 2015). This taxon is known from 3-4 locations (Personal communication, S. Molteno, 5 August 2022).

van Jaarsveld, E.J., Raimondo, D., Logie, C. & von Staden, L. 2015. Gasteria armstrongii Schönland. 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

Whole individuals are removed from the wild.

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 of occurrence with ongoing threats including exploitation places the persistence of this species at risk.

Reference file
Gasteria armstrongii Threatened Species Programme _ SANBI Red List of South African Plants.pdf768.92 KB
Gasteria Aucfan.pdf668.44 KB
gasteria _ eBay.pdf1.01 MB