| Scientific Name | Hydnora africana Thunb. | Higher Classification | Dicotyledons | Family | HYDNORACEAE | Common Names | Baviaanskos (a), Baviaanskost (a), Bobbejaankos (a), Idolo-lenkonyane (x), Jackal Food (e), Jakhalskost (a), Jakkalskos (a), Kannip (a), Kaw-imp (a), Ubuklunga (x), Umavumbuka (z) |
National Status | Status and Criteria | Least Concern | Assessment Date | 2021/03/23 | Assessor(s) | V.L. Williams, D. Raimondo, N.R. Crouch, A.B. Cunningham, C.R. Scott-Shaw, M. Lötter & A.M. Ngwenya |
Distribution | Endemism | Not endemic to South Africa | Provincial distribution | Eastern Cape, KwaZulu-Natal, Northern Cape, Western Cape | Range | This species' distribution extends from southern Namibia to the Cape Peninsula in the Western Cape to the Eastern Cape and KwaZulu-Natal. |
Habitat and Ecology | Major system | Terrestrial | Major habitats | Albany Thicket, Desert, Fynbos, Succulent Karoo |
Threats | | Called 'mavumbuka' in Zulu, the roots are used and harvested extensively for traditional medicine in South Africa and other parts of Africa. Dold and Cocks (2003) report that it is sold in the Eastern Cape street markets. It is frequently among the top 20 most frequently sold plants and is reportedly harvested primarily from the King Williams Town district where it is usually available from street hawkers. Markets in Port Elizabeth, Queenstown and Umtata sell it less frequently. Most customers buy a single piece at a time and only a small quantity is required for each treatment. The species is used interchangeably with Hydnora abyssinica and Sarcophyte sanguinea and it is sometimes difficult to tell which species is in the markets. 'Mavumbuka' was recorded by Cunningham (1988) in the KwaZulu-Natal markets, and it was the 3rd most popular plants species in terms of prevalence and volume in Johannesburg's Faraday Street market (Williams 2003). The fruits (called 'bobbejaanskos' and 'jakkalskos') are also eaten by animals and people. |
Assessment History |
Taxon assessed |
Status and Criteria |
Citation/Red List version | | Hydnora africana Thunb. | Least Concern | 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.
Dold, A.P. and Cocks, M. 2003. Fine fare, rare remedy. Veld & Flora 89(2):12-14.
Goldblatt, P. and Manning, J.C. 2000. Cape Plants: A conspectus of the Cape Flora of South Africa. Strelitzia 9. National Botanical Institute, Cape Town.
Musselman, L.J. 1997. Hydnoraceae. In: G.V. Pope (ed). Flora Zambesiaca 9 (Part 2):16-18. Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew.
Musselman, L.J. and Visser, J.H. 1987. Hydnora johannis in Southern Africa. Dinteria 19:77-82.
Pappe, L. 1862. Silva Capensis or A Description of South African Forest Trees and Arborescent Shrubs used for Technical and Economic Purposes. Ward & Co., London.
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.
Visser, J.H. 1981. South African parasitic flowering plants. Juta, Johannesburg.
Visser, J.H. 1987. The strangest plant in the world. Veld & Flora 72(4):109-111.
Williams, V.L. 2003. Hawkers of health: an investigation of the Faraday Street traditional medicine market in Johannesburg. Report to Gauteng Directorate for Nature Conservation, DACEL.
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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. 2021. Hydnora africana Thunb. National Assessment: Red List of South African Plants version . Accessed on 2025/05/13 |
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