In South Africa, hundreds of plants are removed from their natural habitat in a single day to be sold illegally through a plant trade. Other plants are approaching extinction due to natural causes or urban developments happening in their natural habitat.
By removing plants from their natural habitats, poachers are slowly pushing the existence of that plant species to extinction. The more the plants are poached, the higher their illegal trade value becomes and with the internet’s rapid growth, poachers always know how to identify plants, and where they can be found.
2021 marks the 16th National Endangered Species Day. This day is recognised globally and aims to raise awareness around these species and educate others on how we can protect them.
Here are some of South Africa’s endangered plant species:
Kraaifontein spiderhead/Serruria furcellata
The Kraaifontein spiderhead grows in acid, sandy soils at low altitudes between 50-310m on the Cape Flats and is nearly extinct. According to SANBI, due to urbanisation and the establishment of industrial areas, only a few remain scattered around its natural habitat. This plant is rated critically endangered by the IUCN red list.
Mimetes stokoei; mace pagoda
Mimetes stokoei is an evergreen, upright, large shrub that stands 1-2m tall. This critically endangered plant is in the Proteaceae family. It is found in Kogelberg Nature Reserve, Western Cape. The Mimetes stokoei is currently threatened by expanding protea orchards and inappropriate wildfires.
Dagger-leaf sugarbush/Protea mucronifolia
Also known as the Dagger-leaf sugarbush, this plant depends on fire to have its seeds germinate – only if it burns in the correct session. This plant is listed as endangered after it lost most of its population to wheat farming.
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PICTURES: SANBI
