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Scientific Name | Cyclopia genistoides (L.) R.Br. |
Higher Classification | Dicotyledons |
Family | FABACEAE |
Synonyms | Cyclopia galioides E.Mey., Cyclopia genistoides (L.) R.Br. var. genistoides, Cyclopia genistoides (L.) R.Br. var. heterophylla (Eckl. & Zeyh.) Harv., Cyclopia genistoides (L.) R.Br. var. linearifolia Eckl. & Zeyh., Cyclopia genistoides (L.) R.Br. var. teretifolia (Eckl. & Zeyh.) Kies, Cyclopia heterophylla Eckl. & Zeyh., Cyclopia teretifolia Eckl. & Zeyh., Galega genistoides (L.) Thunb., Ibbetsonia genistoides Sims, Podalyria genistoides (L.) Willd., Sophora genistoides L. |
Common Names | Common Honeybush-tea (e), Gewone Heuningbostee (a), Honeybush Tea (e) |
National Status |
Status and Criteria | Near Threatened A2bcd |
Assessment Date | 2011/06/09 |
Assessor(s) | A.L. Schutte-Vlok & D. Raimondo |
Justification | One of five species of Cyclopia used for honey bush tea. Harvesting of wild subpopulations to supply the tea industry is widespread and overharvesting is causing population decline. Lowland subpopulations have experienced habitat loss due to urban development and crop cultivation. Decline in the population over the past three generations (150 years) is suspected to be 25%. Decline, as a result of habitat loss and overharvesting, is ongoing. |
Distribution |
Endemism | South African endemic |
Provincial distribution | Western Cape |
Range | Malmesbury to the Cape Peninsula and eastwards to Albertinia. |
Habitat and Ecology |
Major system | Terrestrial |
Major habitats | Fynbos |
Description | Sandy soil, 60-1 170 m. |
Threats |
| Declining due to overharvesting for the honey bush tea industry. Illegal harvesting (poaching) of leaves and branches for tea has been reported in a number of areas. In addition, lowland subpopulations of this species in the Malmesbury, Cape Peninsula, Kleinmond, Hermanus and Albertinia region have been lost due to urban expansion and crop cultivation. |
Population |
Population trend | Decreasing |
Notes |
| This species resprouts from a woody rootstock after fire. |
Assessment History |
Taxon assessed |
Status and Criteria |
Citation/Red List version | | Cyclopia genistoides (L.) R.Br. | 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.
Schutte, A.L. 1997. Systematics of the genus Cyclopia Vent. (Fabaceae, Podalyrieae). Edinburgh Journal of Botany 54(2):125-170.
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Citation |
| Schutte-Vlok, A.L. & Raimondo, D. 2011. Cyclopia genistoides (L.) R.Br. National Assessment: Red List of South African Plants version 2020.1. Accessed on 2022/05/16 |
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