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Senecio laticipes

Assessor: Sarah Schumann

Sensitive in 2010
No
Family
Asteraceae
Reason for the sensitivity status
This taxon is a highly collectable dwarf form and is at risk to over-exploitation by removal from the wild. This genus are known to be targeted, exploited and illegally removed from the wild. Evidence shows that the Senecio genus is in demand in international horticultural trade. Few known locations of occurrence makes this species vulnerable. 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 of Least Concern (Raimondo, 2007). This taxon is a highly collectable dwarf form that is known to be targeted for collection and is at risk to over exploitation by removal from the wild (N. Helme, personal communication, 29 July 2022). This genus is increasing 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 confiscated during recent criminal prosecutions of illegal plant collecting. There have been recorded confiscations of species of the Senecio genus from illegal collection (Confiscation List (2022) provided by Kirstenbosch Botanical Garden). 

Raimondo, D. 2007. Senecio laticipes Bruyns. 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 is known from six locations, is widely scattered and not common with an extent of occurrence of 400km² and an estimated population size of less than 20 000 individuals  (N. Helme, personal communication, 29 July 2022).

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 known locations of occurrence and existing threat of exploitation makes this species vulnerable to population loss whereby recruitment and recovery may be poor.

Reference file
Senecio laticipes Threatened Species Programme _ SANBI Red List of South African Plants.pdf507.71 KB