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Scientific Name | Anemone bracteata (Harv. ex J.Zahlbr.) J.C.Manning & Goldblatt |
Higher Classification | Dicotyledons |
Family | RANUNCULACEAE |
Synonyms | Knowltonia bracteata Harv. ex J.Zahlbr., Knowltonia rigida Salisb., Knowltonia rigida Salisb. var. simplicifolia Harv. |
Common Names | Blistering Leaves (e), Brandblaar (a), Umvuthuza (z), Umvuthuza (x) |
National Status |
Status and Criteria | Vulnerable A2d; B2ab(v) |
Assessment Date | 2022/07/21 |
Assessor(s) | V.L. Williams, D. Raimondo, N.R. Crouch, A.B. Cunningham, C.R. Scott-Shaw, M. Lötter & A.M. Ngwenya |
Justification | This species is common in traditional medicine markets and is very rare in the wild. A decline of more than 30% over the past 15 years is estimated as a result of heavy trade pressure (generation length is five years). It has an area of occupancy (AOO) of less than 2000 km², severely fragmented subpopulations occur in isolated sites and continue to decline. It is therefore listed as Vulnerable under criteria A and B. |
Distribution |
Endemism | South African endemic |
Provincial distribution | Eastern Cape, KwaZulu-Natal |
Range | This species is endemic to South Africa and is found in the Eastern Cape and KwaZulu-Natal provinces. |
Habitat and Ecology |
Major system | Terrestrial |
Major habitats | KwaZulu-Natal Highland Thornveld, Moist Coast Hinterland Grassland, Southern Coastal Forest, Scarp Forest, Southern Mistbelt Forest, Northern Afrotemperate Forest, Kouga Grassy Sandstone Fynbos, Pondoland-Ugu Sandstone Coastal Sourveld, Subtropical Dune Thicket, Umtiza Forest Thicket |
Description | Plants grow in grassy forest margins, shrubby woodland and mountain forests. |
Threats |
| This species is a forest herb and the entire plant is used and harvested. Cunningham (1988) estimated that 144 bags (50kg-size) were sold annually in the KwaZulu-Natal markets between 54 herb-traders. Given the size of the plant, this is a very high quantity. The species was classed as 'declining' - i.e. recently widespread but likely to become vulnerable and continue to decline if harvesting of wild populations continued.
The species isn't seen very often in the Durban markets or in the wild these days (N.R. Crouch, pers. comm., 2008). However, there is evidence that they have recently become more prevalent in the Eastern Cape markets even though they are very sparse in the wild (A.P. Dold, pers. comm., 2008). There has been a definite decline in population size, and there are signs of harvesting from the wild in the Eastern Cape; usually only 1-2 plants are seen (A.P. Dold, pers. comm., 2008). The species is reportedly easy to grow from seed. The participants of the 2008 Red List medicinals workshop at SANBI, Durban, estimated a 30% decline over the last 3 generations (15 years). |
Population |
Population trend | Decreasing |
Assessment History |
Taxon assessed |
Status and Criteria |
Citation/Red List version | | Anemone bracteata (Harv. ex J.Zahlbr.) J.C.Manning & Goldblatt | VU A2d; B2ab(v) | 2014.1 | | Knowltonia bracteata Harv. ex J.Zahlbr. | VU A2d; B2ab(v) | Raimondo et al. (2009) | |
Bibliography |
Cunningham, A.B. 1988. An investigation of the herbal medicine trade in Natal/KwaZulu. Investigational Report No. 29. Institute of Natural Resources, Pietermaritzburg.
Manning, J.C., Goldblatt, P. and Hoot, S.B. 2009. Ranunculaceae: The genus Knowltonia subsumed within Anemone. Bothalia 39(2):217-219.
Pooley, E. 1998. A field guide to wild flowers of KwaZulu-Natal and the eastern region. Natal Flora Publications Trust, Durban.
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.
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Citation |
| Williams, V.L., Raimondo, D., Crouch, N.R., Cunningham, A.B., Scott-Shaw, C.R., Lötter, M. & Ngwenya, A.M. 2022. Anemone bracteata (Harv. ex J.Zahlbr.) J.C.Manning & Goldblatt. National Assessment: Red List of South African Plants version . Accessed on 2024/12/08 |
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