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Haworthiopsis bruynsii

Assessor: Sarah Schumann

Sensitive in 2010
No
Family
Asphodelaceae
Reason for the sensitivity status
This species is known to be threatened with illegal collection, causing population decline. Several others of the genus are known to be targeted, exploited and illegally removed from the wild, causing population decline. Evidence shows that the Haworthiopsis genus is in high demand in international horticultural trade. Few known locations of occurrence makes this species 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 Endangered as it is highly range restricted, known from three locations and is threatened with harvesting of wild individuals for horticultural purposes and habitat degradation (Vlok et al. 2014). This taxon is known to be targeted and wild collected for the horticultural trade (S. Molteno, personal communication, 12 August 2022). This genus is currently in demand and of popular interest in horticultural trade, as indicated by several online marketplace, e-commerce and auction sites. Plants of this genus were among those targeted and confiscated during recent criminal prosecutions of illegal plant collecting (Confiscation Lists (2019-2021) provided by Cape Nature, SANBI Kirstenbosch Botanical Garden and SANBI Karoo Desert Botanic Garden). This suggests that this genus is being targeted and that this species may be at risk.

Vlok, J.H., Raimondo, D. & von Staden, L. 2014. Haworthiopsis bruynsii (M.B.Bayer) G.D.Rowley. 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 52 km² and is known from three locations (Vlok et al. 2014).

Vlok, J.H., Raimondo, D. & von Staden, L. 2014. Haworthiopsis bruynsii (M.B.Bayer) G.D.Rowley. 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

Wild individuals are harvested (Vlok et al. 2014). 

Vlok, J.H., Raimondo, D. & von Staden, L. 2014. Haworthiopsis bruynsii (M.B.Bayer) G.D.Rowley. 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

Range restriction, few known locations and ongoing threat including illegal harvesting (Vlok et al. 2014) (S. Molteno, personal communication, 12 August 2022), places the persistence of this species at risk whereby recruitment and recovery may be poor.

Vlok, J.H., Raimondo, D. & von Staden, L. 2014. Haworthiopsis bruynsii (M.B.Bayer) G.D.Rowley. National Assessment: Red List of South African Plants version 2020.1.

Reference file
Haworthiopsis bruynsii Threatened Species Programme _ SANBI Red List of South African Plants.pdf550.47 KB
haworthiopsis _ eBay.pdf447.72 KB
Haworthiopsis search results.pdf1.42 MB
Haworthiopsis.pdf1.91 MB