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Scientific Name | Bulbine bruynsii S.A.Hammer |
Higher Classification | Monocotyledons |
Family | ASPHODELACEAE |
National Status |
Status and Criteria | Critically Endangered B1ab(v) |
Assessment Date | 2023/07/03 |
Assessor(s) | N.N. Mhlongo, A. Harrower, A.J. Young, N.A. Helme & L. von Staden |
Justification | A rare, localized habitat specialist, known from one subpopulation with an extent of occurrence (EOO) of 56 km² and an area of occupancy (AOO) of 44 km². This species is threatened by collection for the specialist succulent trade and is potentially threatened by habitat loss to construction. It therefore qualifies for listing as Critically Endangered under criterion B. |
Distribution |
Endemism | South African endemic |
Provincial distribution | Northern Cape |
Range | This species is endemic to the Northern Cape Province of South Africa, where it occurs west of Bitterfontein and towards Groenrivier. |
Habitat and Ecology |
Major system | Terrestrial |
Major habitats | Namaqualand Heuweltjieveld |
Description | Plants grow on saline quartz patches. |
Threats |
| This species is potentially threatened by infrastructure development and other construction associated with a road bisecting part of the population. This species is also highly sought-after in the specialist succulent trade, and is difficult to grow from seed. It is threatened by collectors removing mature individuals from the wild. CapeNature recently (2023) discovered an abandoned pile consisting of 150 dug up plants with tubers, most of which have subsequently died due to rotting. |
Population |
Bulbine bruynsii is a localized habitat specialist, known from a single subpopulation. A 2014 survey of the population recorded more than 2000 mature individuals, scattered in small clumps across 12 quartz patches. Five of these patches border on a road where it is potentially threatened by construction of a pipeline, but upon recommendation of the botanical specialist contracted for the survey, construction will be aligned with the road so as to avoid impacting the population. More than 50% of the surveyed population occurs away from roads and other infrastructure, and is not threatened. However, recent observations suggest a rapid decline due to illegal collection for the specialist horticulture trade.
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Population trend | Decreasing |
Assessment History |
Taxon assessed |
Status and Criteria |
Citation/Red List version | | Bulbine bruynsii S.A.Hammer | Least Concern | 2012.1 | | Bulbine bruynsii S.A.Hammer | Least Concern | Raimondo et al. (2009) | |
Bibliography |
Raimondo, D., von Staden, L., Foden, W., Victor, J.E., Helme, N.A., Turner, R.C., Kamundi, D.A. and Manyama, P.A. 2009. Red List of South African Plants. Strelitzia 25. South African National Biodiversity Institute, Pretoria.
Snijman, D.A. 2013. Plants of the Greater Cape Floristic Region 2: The extra Cape flora. Strelitzia 30. South African National Biodiversity Institute, Pretoria.
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Citation |
| Mhlongo, N.N., Harrower, A., Young, A.J., Helme, N.A. & von Staden, L. 2023. Bulbine bruynsii S.A.Hammer. National Assessment: Red List of South African Plants version . Accessed on 2024/12/06 |
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