|
Scientific Name | Agathosma betulina (P.J.Bergius) Pillans |
Higher Classification | Dicotyledons |
Family | RUTACEAE |
Synonyms | Barosma betulina Bartl. & H.L.Wendl., Bucco betulina Roem. & Schult., Diosma betulina Thunb., Diosma crenata Lodd. (later homonym), not of L. (1759), Hartogia betulina P.J.Bergius |
Common Names | Bergboegoe (a), Buchu (e), Rondblaarboegoe (a), Round Leaf Buchu (e), Round-leaved Buchu (e) |
National Status |
Status and Criteria | Least Concern |
Assessment Date | 2016/06/28 |
Assessor(s) | T. Trinder-Smith & D. Raimondo |
Justification | EOO 4624 km², recorded from over 40 locations, this species has been heavily impacted by harvesting for its essential oils throughout its range. Although local declines in some subpopulations have been reported, the population is not suspected to have lost more than 10% of individuals. This species is a resprouter and is able to recover from moderate levels of harvesting. Only severe repeat harvesting of the same individuals in some areas has caused declines. Current provincial legislation managing the trade has resulted in cultivated material being promoted, most wild subpopulations are therefore no longer targeted. |
Distribution |
Endemism | South African endemic |
Provincial distribution | Western Cape |
Range | Cederberg to Groot Winterhoek Mountains including the Piketberg. |
Habitat and Ecology |
Major system | Terrestrial |
Major habitats | Fynbos |
Description | Rocky sandstone slopes. 300-700m. |
Threats |
| Heavily impacted through out its range by harvesting for essential oils, prices between 1998 and 2004 were very high due to demand from overseas markets. Although not well documented we suspect that due to ongoing sustained harvesting pressure on wild subpopulations there has been a decline in the number of individuals. However harvesting is generally not destructive as only leaves and branches are cut. As this species is a multistemmed resprouter it is in the most part able to recover from moderate harvest pressure. Only repeat severe harvest is likely to cause declines. Since 2006 legislation has been established to favour cultivated material and reliance on wild harvested material has declined substantially. Decline in the population is not expected to be over 10%. |
Population |
Population trend | Decreasing |
Notes |
| Agathosma crenulata and A. betulina are commercially grown for their oil. The oil is extracted and used in the manufacture of cosmetics, soaps, food colorants and medicinally for the treatment of renal disorders and chest complaints. Isomenthone and disphenol are the major oil compounds in the essential oils of A. betulina. The essential oils are used for their antiseptic and diuretic properties. Used in the food industry, the sulphur-containing compounds are responsible for the characteristic blackcurrant smell and flavour of buchu oil (Scott and Springfield 2004).
The indigenous Khoi-San people of the Western Cape have used Agathosma betulina, (better known as buchu) the focus of this study, for many years (Jodamus 2003). It has been well documented that the Khoi people used it for almost everything, from stomach ailments to moisturizing their skins). More recently, due to its commercialization, buchu has become so sought after that it is being treated as a protected species, is highly vulnerable to extinction, and is being cited as the abalone of the land. Internationally, there is a huge demand for it, since its major uses are in the pharmaceutical and food industry (Coetzee et al. 1999). Locally, it is being distilled by large companies at profitable rate. According to the Western Cape Nature Conservation Board (WCNCB), the buchu industry generates approximately R150 million per year.
Until 1995, the only sources of buchu were wild plantations in the mountains of the Western Cape. This put the resource at risk. |
Assessment History |
Taxon assessed |
Status and Criteria |
Citation/Red List version | | Agathosma betulina (P.J.Bergius) Pillans | Declining | Raimondo et al. (2009) | |
Bibliography |
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.
Pillans, N.S. 1950. A revision of Agathosma. Journal of South African Botany 16(2):55-177.
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.
Scott, G. and Springfield, E.P. 2004. Pharmaceutical monographs for 60 South African plant species used as traditional medicines. www.plantzafrica.com/medmonographs. Downloaded on 4 November 2008.
|
Citation |
| Trinder-Smith, T. & Raimondo, D. 2016. Agathosma betulina (P.J.Bergius) Pillans. National Assessment: Red List of South African Plants version . Accessed on 2024/10/08 |
Comment on this assessment
