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Scientific Name | Cyclopia genistoides (L.) R.Br. |
Higher Classification | Dicotyledons |
Family | FABACEAE |
Synonyms | Cyclopia galioides E.Mey., Cyclopia genistoides (L.) R.Br. var. genistoides, Cyclopia genistoides (L.) R.Br. var. heterophylla (Eckl. & Zeyh.) Harv., Cyclopia genistoides (L.) R.Br. var. linearifolia Eckl. & Zeyh., Cyclopia genistoides (L.) R.Br. var. teretifolia (Eckl. & Zeyh.) Kies, Cyclopia heterophylla Eckl. & Zeyh., Cyclopia teretifolia Eckl. & Zeyh., Galega genistoides (L.) Thunb., Ibbetsonia genistoides Sims, Podalyria genistoides (L.) Willd., Sophora genistoides L. |
Common Names | Common Honeybush-tea (e), Gewone Heuningbostee (a), Honeybush Tea (e) |
National Status |
Status and Criteria | Near Threatened A2cd; B1b(iii,v)+2b(iii,v) |
Assessment Date | 2022/08/22 |
Assessor(s) | A.L. Schutte-Vlok, D. Raimondo & N.N. Mhlongo |
Justification | This species is one of five types of Cyclopia used for honeybush tea. It has an extent of occurrence (EOO) of 16357 km² and an area of occupancy (AOO) of 172 km². It is known from at least 30 locations. The population is suspected to have undergone a 25% decline over the past three generations (150 years) due to the combined effects of urban expansion, agriculture, and opportunistic wild harvesting to supply the honeybush tea industry. It nearly meets the thresholds for Vulnerable under criteria A and B, and it is therefore listed as Near Threatened. |
Distribution |
Endemism | South African endemic |
Provincial distribution | Western Cape |
Range | This Western Cape endemic is known from Malmesbury to the Cape Peninsula and eastwards to Albertinia. |
Habitat and Ecology |
Major system | Terrestrial |
Major habitats | Peninsula Sandstone Fynbos, Kogelberg Sandstone Fynbos, Cape Winelands Shale Fynbos, Boland Granite Fynbos, Albertinia Sand Fynbos |
Description | It occurs in flat slopes in Lowland fynbos. It is a long-lived resprouter with an estimated generation of length of 50 years. |
Threats |
| In the past, this species experienced declines due to overharvesting for the honeybush tea industry. Illegal harvesting of leaves and branches for tea was reported in various areas. However, the situation has changed, and the species is currently well-cultivated, with minimal wild collection (Ackhurst et al., 2022). While overharvesting may no longer be a major threat, opportunistic poaching still occurs, as noted by Gerrie Ferreira (2022). These poachers harvest everything they find, posing a potential threat to subpopulations. The honeybush tea industry has gradually declined since 2012, with exported volumes plummeting from 300 tons to just 100 tons in 2021 (Gerrie Ferreira, pers. comm 2022). Furthermore, lowland subpopulations in the Malmesbury, Cape Peninsula, Kleinmond, Hermanus, and Albertinia regions have been lost due to urban expansion and crop cultivation. |
Population |
Population information for this species is limited, but specimen records have described it as locally common at specific collection sites. Historical harvesting of wild subpopulations and habitat loss at lower elevations have contributed to a past population reduction of at least 25% over the last three generations. Although this species is no longer believed to be harvested from the wild (McGregor 2017), there is suspicion of an ongoing decline due to the degradation of lowland habitat. Monitoring the population is recommended to establish its size and confirm any potential decline.
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Population trend | Decreasing |
Notes |
| This species resprouts from a woody rootstock after fire. |
Assessment History |
Taxon assessed |
Status and Criteria |
Citation/Red List version | | Cyclopia genistoides (L.) R.Br. | Least Concern | Raimondo et al. (2009) | |
Bibliography |
McGregor, G.K. 2017. Guidelines for the sustainable harvesting of wild honeybush. Department of Environmental Affairs and Development Planning, Cape Town.
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.
Schutte, A.L. 1997. Systematics of the genus Cyclopia Vent. (Fabaceae, Podalyrieae). Edinburgh Journal of Botany 54(2):125-170.
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Citation |
| Schutte-Vlok, A.L., Raimondo, D. & Mhlongo, N.N. 2022. Cyclopia genistoides (L.) R.Br. National Assessment: Red List of South African Plants version . Accessed on 2025/04/14 |
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