| Scientific Name | Adenia gummifera (Harv.) Harms var. gummifera | Higher Classification | Dicotyledons | Family | PASSIFLORACEAE | Synonyms | Modecca gummifera Harv. | Common Names | Impinda (z), Impindamshaye (z), Monkey Rope (e), Slangklimop (a), Snake-climber (e), Umphindamshaya (z), Wild Grenadilla (e) |
National Status | Status and Criteria | Least Concern | Assessment Date | 2016/06/28 | Assessor(s) | V.L. Williams, D. Raimondo, N.R. Crouch, A.B. Cunningham, C.R. Scott-Shaw, M. Lötter & A.M. Ngwenya | Justification | This taxon is regularly found in medicinal markets and local declines have been observed. We suspect that there is a continuing decline, but it is still relatively common and not expected to meet criteria for the category NT. |
Distribution | Endemism | Not endemic to South Africa | Provincial distribution | Eastern Cape, KwaZulu-Natal, Limpopo, Mpumalanga | Range | Widespread in eastern Africa, from Somalia to Kei River mouth in the Eastern Cape, South Africa. |
Habitat and Ecology | Major system | Terrestrial | Major habitats | Forest, Savanna | Description | Forested ravines, forest patches and forest margins, forest scrub, miombo woodland, savanna, dune forest, on stony slopes, termitaria and littoral bush, 0-1 800 m. |
Threats | | The stems, roots and leaves are used for various traditional medicinal and magical purposes throughout its range. In southern Africa traditional medicine markets, the chopped up stems are popularly traded — however, the tuber-like underground portion has been noted in the Faraday muthi market (Johannesburg) in the last few years, suggesting more destructive harvesting levels than were previously occurring (V. Williams, pers. comm. 2008). Cunningham (1988) reported A. gummifera to be the fourth most popular plant traded in the KwaZulu-Natal muthi markets, but despite the high volumes sold — at least 459 bags (50kg-size) per annum — traders were not concerned with scarcity. In terms of vulnerability to exploitation, Cunningham (1988) described it a "species whose status is uncertain, but which appears to heavily harvested and more data is required". McKean (1993) noted that the species was in high demand, that there was population decline, and that harvesting need not kill the plant. Mander (1998) also noted that the species was popular in the KwaZulu-Natal muthi markets, but that its popularity had declined. Muthi shops around Johannesburg sold large quantities of the plant (Williams 2007). In 1994 and 2001, 72% of muthi shops and 29% of Faraday traders respectively sold the plant. There were at least 10 bags of stems present in Faraday when the market was inventoried in January 2001 (Williams 2003). Despite its long-recorded use across much of its African range, A. gummifera does not appear to be threatened with extinction, unlike some of its regionally restricted relatives. A. gummifera is still quite often encountered throughout its southern African range, although subpopulations are small (Crouch et al. 2002). Plants have however been eradicated from a few areas such as central Durban (Crouch et al. 2002).
A.B. Cunningham (pers. comm. 2008) noted that seed production may be declining because of harvesting, but it appears to be a resilient species. |
Population | This taxon is quite common, but occurs as small subpopulations.
| Population trend | Decreasing |
Assessment History |
Taxon assessed |
Status and Criteria |
Citation/Red List version | | Adenia gummifera (Harv.) Harms var. gummifera | Declining | Raimondo et al. (2009) | |
Bibliography | Crouch, N.R., Smith, G.F., Symmonds, R. and Crouch, T.E. 2002. Batting curses and beating depression: Adenia gummifera in Zulu traditional medicine. Bradleya 20:67-78.
Cunningham, A.B. 1988. An investigation of the herbal medicine trade in Natal/KwaZulu. Investigational Report No. 29. Institute of Natural Resources, Pietermaritzburg.
De Wilde, W.J.J.O. 1976. Passifloraceae. In: J.H. Ross (ed). Flora of southern Africa 22:104-128. National Botanical Institute, Pretoria.
Fernandes, R. and Fernandes, A. 1978. Passifloraceae. Flora Zambesiaca 4:368-411.
Mander, M. 1998. Marketing of indigenous medicinal plants in South Africa: a case study in KwaZulu-Natal. Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations, Rome.
McKean, S. 1993. Important species document: Utilized plants. Natal Parks Board, Pietermaritzburg.
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.
Von Ahlefeldt, D., Crouch, N.R., Nichols, G., Symmonds, R., McKean, S., Sibiya, H. and Cele, M.P. 2003. Medicinal plants traded on South Africa's eastern seabord. Porcupine Press, Durban.
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.
Williams, V.L. 2007. The design of a risk assessment model to determine the impact of the herbal medicine trade on the Witwatersrand on resources of indigenous plant species. Unpublished PhD Thesis, University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg.
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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. 2016. Adenia gummifera (Harv.) Harms var. gummifera. National Assessment: Red List of South African Plants version . Accessed on 2025/06/01 |
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