Red List Status
VU - Vulnerable, D2 (IUCN version 3.1)

Red List Assessment

Red List Status

Is the reassessment subject to the 5-year rule? (Not specified)

Assessment Information

Date of Assessment: (Not specified)

Reviewed? (Not specified)

Assessor(s): Braun, K.

Reviewer(s): (Not specified)

Contributor(s): (Not specified)

Facilitators/Compilers: (Not specified)

Institution(s): (Not specified)

Acknowledgements: (Not specified)

Regions: Global

Regional Expert Questions: (Not specified)

Assessment Rationale

Aeschynomene stipitata has been found in one locality in recent years, the original collection of this species dates back to 1914, with the locality uncertain. With only one confirmed record of this species, it is not possible to determine population trends, but as occurs in an area where there is a threat from both overgrazing and alien invasive plants. More fieldwork might find this species in additional localities. Its extremely limited distribution qualifies this species for a Vulnerable listing.
Date last seen: 2017

Reasons for Change

Reason(s) for Change in Red List Category from the Previous Assessment: (Not specified)

Red List Index

Red List Index: (Not specified)

Distribution

Geographic Range

This species was described from a specimen collected by F A Rogers in 1914, with the locality being Mbabane, Swaziland, the type being held by Kew. Material from this same collection is in the Meise Botanic Garden herbarium, but this one has Transvaal as the locality. This species was found in Eswatini in the Shewula area in the Lubombos in 2017. It is likely that the locality information for the type specimen may be incorrect, so for assessment purposes, only the more recent locality information was considered.

Area of Occupancy (AOO)

Estimated area of occupancy (AOO) - in km2	Justification
4	This is based on one observation in 2017, the locality information for the type specimen from 1914 being questionable. The estimated area of occupancy was calculated using GeoCAT (Bachman et al. 2011), with the standard 2x2 km grid cell being applied.

Continuing decline in area of occupancy (AOO): (Not specified)

Extreme fluctuations in area of occupancy (AOO): (Not specified)

Extent of Occurrence (EOO)

Estimated extent of occurrence (EOO)- in km2	EOO estimate calculated from Minimum Convex Polygon	Justification
4	true	This is based on one observation in 2017, the locality information for the type specimen from 1914 being questionable. The estimated extent of occurrence calculated using GeoCAT (Bachman et al. 2011) was 0 km2, less than the area of occupancy, so the higher figure has been used here.

Continuing decline in extent of occurrence (EOO)	Qualifier	Justification
Unknown	-	This species has only been observed once in recent years.

Extreme fluctuations in extent of occurrence (EOO): (Not specified)

Locations Information

Number of Locations	Justification
1	This is based on one observation in 2017, the locality information for the type specimen from 1914 being questionable. This location is potentially threatened by both overgrazing and alien invasive plants.

Continuing decline in number of locations	Qualifier	Justification
Unknown	-	This species has only been observed on one occasion in recent years.

Extreme fluctuations in the number of locations: (Not specified)

Very restricted AOO or number of locations (triggers VU D2)

Very restricted in area of occupancy (AOO) and/or # of locations	Justification
Yes	This is based on one observation in 2017, the locality information for the type specimen from 1914 being questionable.

Elevation / Depth / Depth Zones

Elevation Lower Limit (in metres above sea level): 100

Elevation Upper Limit (in metres above sea level): 100

Depth Lower Limit (in metres below sea level): (Not specified)

Depth Upper Limit (in metres below sea level): (Not specified)

Depth Zone: (Not specified)

Map Status

Map Status: (Not specified)

Biogeographic Realms

Biogeographic Realm: Afrotropical

Country	Presence	Origin	Formerly Bred	Seasonality
Eswatini	Extant	Native	-	Resident

Population

No population surveys have been carried out for this species. The 2017 observation indicated that this species was rare within the area surveyed.

Population Information

Current Population Trend: Unknown

Number of mature individuals (=population size): (Not specified)

Extreme fluctuations? (in # of mature individuals): (Not specified)

Severely fragmented? (Not specified)

Continuing decline in mature individuals? (Not specified)

Continuing decline % in mature individuals within 1 generation or 3 years, whichever is longer (up to max. of 100 years in the future): (Not specified)

Continuing decline % in mature individuals within 2 generations or 5 years, whichever is longer (up to max. of 100 years in the future): (Not specified)

Continuing decline % in mature individuals within 3 generations or 10 years, whichever is longer (up to max. of 100 years in the future): (Not specified)

Extreme fluctuations in the number of subpopulations: (Not specified)

Continuing decline in number of subpopulations: (Not specified)

All individuals in one subpopulation: (Not specified)

Number of mature individuals in largest subpopulation: (Not specified)

Number of Subpopulations: (Not specified)

Population Reduction - Past

Percent Change in past: (Not specified)

Past Population Reduction Basis: (Not specified)

Causes of past reduction reversible? (Not specified)

Causes of past reduction understood? (Not specified)

Causes of past reduction ceased? (Not specified)

Population Reduction - Future

Percent Change in future: (Not specified)

Future Population Reduction Basis: (Not specified)

Population Reduction - Ongoing

Both: Percent Change over any 10 year or 3 generation period, whichever is longer, and must include both past and future, future can't go beyond 100 years: (Not specified)

Both Population Reduction Basis: (Not specified)

Causes of both (past and future) reduction reversible? (Not specified)

Causes of both (past and future) reduction understood? (Not specified)

Causes of both (past and future) reduction ceased? (Not specified)

Quantitative Analysis

Probability of extinction in the wild within 3 generations or 10 years, whichever is longer, maximum 100 years: (Not specified)

Probability of extinction in the wild within 5 generations or 20 years, whichever is longer, maximum 100 years: (Not specified)

Probability of extinction in the wild within 100 years: (Not specified)

Habitats and Ecology

The observation of this species in 2017 recorded this species in an alluvial floodplain area, the vegetation community being Phoenix reclinata - Vitex harveyana - Phyllanthus reticulatus, forming riparian scrub-thicket. The vegetation type as per the Southern African vegetation map is Southern Lebombo Bushveld (SVI16) (Mucina et. al. 2018).

IUCN Habitats Classification Scheme

Habitat	Season	Suitability	Major Importance?
2.2. Savanna -> Savanna - Moist	-	Suitable	-

Continuing Decline in Habitat

Continuing decline in area, extent and/or quality of habitat? (Not specified)

Life History

Generation Length: (Not specified)

Age at maturity: female or unspecified: (Not specified)

Age at Maturity: Male: (Not specified)

Size at Maturity (in cms): Female: (Not specified)

Size at Maturity (in cms): Male: (Not specified)

Longevity: (Not specified)

Average Reproductive Age: (Not specified)

Maximum Size (in cms): (Not specified)

Size at Birth (in cms): (Not specified)

Gestation Time: (Not specified)

Reproductive Periodicity: (Not specified)

Average Annual Fecundity or Litter Size: (Not specified)

Annual Rate of Population Increase: (Not specified)

Natural Mortality: (Not specified)

Does the species lay eggs? (Not specified)

Does the species give birth to live young: (Not specified)

Does the species exhibit parthenogenesis: (Not specified)

Does the species have a free-living larval stage? (Not specified)

Does the species require water for breeding? (Not specified)

Movement Patterns

Movement Patterns: (Not specified)

Congregatory: (Not specified)

Systems

System: Terrestrial

Plant / Fungi Specific

Wild relative of a crop? (Not specified)

Plant and Fungal Growth Forms: (Not specified)

Use and Trade

General Use and Trade Information

Species not utilized: (Not specified)

No use/trade information for this species: true

General notes regarding trade and use of this species: (Not specified)

Local Livelihood: (Not specified)

National Commercial Value: (Not specified)

International Commercial Value: (Not specified)

End Use: (Not specified)

Is there harvest from captive/cultivated sources of this species? (Not specified)

Trend in level of total offtake from wild sources: (Not specified)

Trend in level of total offtake from domesticated sources: (Not specified)

Harvest Trend Comments: (Not specified)

Non- Consumptive Use

Non-consumptive use of the species? (Not specified)

Explanation of non-consumptive use: (Not specified)

Livelihoods

Livelihoods: (Not specified)

Threats

This species was observed within the Shewula community conservation area, which is subject to high levels of grazing by cattle, and there is also a threat from alien invasive plants.

Threats Classification Scheme

No past, ongoing, or future threats exist to this species. (Not specified)

The threats to this species are unknown. (Not specified)

Threat	Timing	Scope	Severity
2.3.2. Agriculture & aquaculture -> Livestock farming & ranching -> Small-holder grazing, ranching or farming	Ongoing	Whole (>90%)	Causing/Could cause fluctuations
8.1.1. Invasive and other problematic species, genes & diseases -> Invasive non-native/alien species/diseases -> Unspecified species	Ongoing	Whole (>90%)	Slow, Significant Declines

Conservation

The locality where this species was observed in 2017 falls with in the Shewula community conservation area, although this only provides limited protection for the species.

Conservation Actions In- Place

Action Recovery Plan	Note
No	-

Systematic monitoring scheme	Note
No	-

Conservation sites identified	Note
Unknown	-

Occur in at least one PA	Note
Yes	This species was observed within the Shewula community conservation area. However, the area is currently still subjected to heavy grazing, and there is an ongoing threat from alien invasive plants, so the degree of protection is limited.

Percentage of population protected by PAs (0-100)	Note
91-100	Currently, the confirmed species distribution is limited to only one locality, falling within the Shewula community conservation area.

Area based regional management plan: (Not specified)

Invasive species control or prevention	Note
No	-

Harvest management plan	Note
No	-

Successfully reintroduced or introduced benignly	Note
No	-

Subject to ex-situ conservation	Note
No	-

Subject to recent education and awareness programmes	Note
No	-

Included in international legislation	Note
No	-

Subject to any international management/trade controls	Note
No	-

Important Conservation Actions Needed

Conservation Actions	Note
2.1. Land/water management -> Site/area management	Support for the Shewula Community conservation area to help with control of both grazing levels and alien invasive plants would increase the potential survival of this plant.
3.4.2. Species management -> Ex-situ conservation -> Genome resource bank	Collection of material for ex-situ conservation would increase the potential for survival of this species.

Research Needed

Research	Note
1.2. Research -> Population size, distribution & trends	Very little is currently known about this species, with only one record in recent years. Research is needed into the population sizes and trends, as well as fieldwork to determine if this species is found in additional localities.
1.3. Research -> Life history & ecology	There is currently no information on the life history and ecology of this species. Such information would aid with determination of possible conservation actions for this plant.

Aeschynomene stipitata - Burtt Davy