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Watsonia canaliculata

Assessor: Sarah Schumann

Sensitive in 2010
No
Family
Iridaceae
Reason for the sensitivity status
This genus is currently in demand and of popular interest in international horticultural trade. No particular South African species are known to be threatened by collection of wild individuals. As this taxon does not have a vulnerable population size, were exploitation to occur, recruitment and recovery may be possible.
Exploitation extent
Uncertain - No data exists yet showing that this species is exploited in the wild, however it has one or more relatives or look-alike species (found in South Africa or globally) that are known to be utilised. This species has a similar life form or other relevant traits to its exploited relative(s), making it highly likely that it would be exploited for the same purposes.
Justification and references

According to the SANBI Red List Assessment, this species is Endangered as it is known from less than 10 highly fragmented remaining subpopulations due to habitat loss from forestry plantations and is experiencing ongoing population decline due to alien invasive plant competition (Mtshali, 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. No particular South African species are known to be threatened by collection of wild individuals.

Mtshali, H. 2015. Watsonia canaliculata Goldblatt. National Assessment: Red List of South African Plants version 2020.1.

Population vulnerability
Population is not vulnerable: size is > 2500 mature individuals, AND the number of known subpopulations is > 5 AND range > 100km2
Justification and references

This taxon has an extent of occurrence of 425 km², has lost more than 70% of its habitat and consists of less than ten small, isolated subpopulations that are declining (Mtshali, 2015).

Mtshali, H. 2015. Watsonia canaliculata Goldblatt. National Assessment: Red List of South African Plants version 2020.1.

Targeted demographics
Mature (breeding) and immature individuals are not killed, are not significantly weakened (the harvesting methods do not do harm), and are not permanently 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

As this taxon does not have a vulnerable population size, were exploitation to occur, recruitment and recovery may be possible.

Reference file
watsonia.pdf545.25 KB
Watsonia canaliculata Threatened Species Programme _ SANBI Red List of South African Plants.pdf780.41 KB