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Pelargonium viciifolium

Assessor: Sarah Schumann

Sensitive in 2010
No
Family
Geraniaceae
Reason for the sensitivity status
This species is known to be wild collected to a insignificant extent. Several others of the genus are known to be targeted, exploited and illegally removed from the wild, causing population decline. Evidence shows that the pelargonium genus is in demand in international horticultural trade. Although exploitation is minimal, with other threats included, recruitment and recovery 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 Endangered as it is has experienced a more than 50% population reduction due to ongoing habitat loss over the past 60 years (Raimondo & Helme, 2007). All the tuber Pelargoniums (section Hoarea) are exploited to some extent but this has a minimal or insignificant impact on the majority of the species due to the low amount of exploitation and population sizes (van der Walt, R personal communication, 12 August 2022). Foreign collectors will collect one our two tubers and then propagate the species under artificial conditions (van der Walt, R personal communication, 12 August 2022). Seeds are also exchanged between collectors and this is then responsible that less wild plants are collected (van der Walt, R personal communication, 12 August 2022). Collection of wild specimens are mostly confined to places close to public roads while the populations far away from public roads are rarely affected by collectors (van der Walt, R personal communication, 12 August 2022). A bigger threat to most tuber pelargoniums are overstocking of livestock and illegal clearing of vegetation for new crops (van der Walt, R personal communication, 12 August 2022). This genus is in demand and of popular interest in international horticultural trade, as indicated by several online marketplace, e-commerce and auction sites. Plants of this genus were among those targeted and/or confiscated during recent criminal prosecutions of illegal plant collecting. There have been several recorded confiscations of species of the Pelargonium genus from illegal collection (Confiscation List (2018-2021) provided by Cape Nature, SANParks Sendelingsdrift Botanic Garden, SANBI Kirstenbosch Botanical Garden and Karoo Desert Botanic Garden). 

Raimondo, D. & Helme, N.A. 2007. Pelargonium viciifolium DC. 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 3950 km² with eight highly fragmented subpopulations remaining and ongoing population loss (Raimondo & Helme, 2007).

Raimondo, D. & Helme, N.A. 2007. Pelargonium viciifolium DC. 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

Few remaining and fragmented subpopulations with several existing threats causing population decline, makes this species vulnerable to population loss. Although exploitation is minimal, with other threats included, recruitment and recovery may be poor.

Reference file
Pelargonium _ eBay.pdf561.91 KB
Pelargonium African Succulents.pdf408.87 KB
Pelargonium Aucfan.pdf854.01 KB