Abstract
Africa has the largest diversity of the genus Hypoxis, accounting for 61% of the current globally accepted taxa within the genus, including some endemic species. Using Hypoxis hemerocallidea as a case study, this review addresses the conservation concerns arising from the unsustainable, wild harvesting of a number of Hypoxis species. Hypoxis hemerocallidea is one of the wild-harvested, economically important, indigenous medicinal plants of southern Africa, with potential in natural product and drug development. There are several products made from the species, including capsules, tinctures, tonics and creams that are available in the market. The use of H. hemerocallidea as a “cure-all” medicine puts an important harvesting pressure on the species. Unsustainable harvesting causes a continuing decline of its populations and it is therefore of high priority for conservation, including a strong case to cultivate the species. Reviewing the current knowledge and gaps on cultivation of H. hemerocallidea, we suggest the creation of a platform for linking all the stakeholders in the industry.
Highlights
The African continent is known for its rich floral biodiversity, high levels of endemism [1] and increasing reliance on its natural resources based on its indigenous knowledge systems, for economic growth and development
The increasing reliance of a growing population coupled with other factors such as habitat destruction, alien species invasion and other anthropogenic factors has resulted in an increasing strain on African plant diversity, creating the need for urgent biodiversity conservation interventions [2]
According to Balogun et al [6], about 40 Hypoxis species are known in southern Africa, which is regarded as the main center of the species diversity and endemism [7]
Summary
The African continent is known for its rich floral biodiversity, high levels of endemism [1] and increasing reliance on its natural resources based on its indigenous knowledge systems, for economic growth and development. (family: Hypoxidaceae), commonly known as African potato, iLabatheka, iNkomfe, moli and star flower, is listed in southern Africa as one of the indigenous medicinal plants with potential in natural product and drug development [12,13,14], being one of the commercially important medicinal plants in the region It is the only Hypoxis species listed among the 51 plant species in the African Herbal Pharmacopoeia [15]. Only Hypoxis malaissei Wiland has been listed in the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species [19] as ‘Data Deficient’ & Schult.f. Hypoxis biflora De Wild.; Hypoxis caespitosa Baker; Hypoxis dregei var. Written taxa are accepted names according to The Plant List [5] and World Checklist of Selected Plant Families [3]. 2 Distribution in Africa: TA: Tropical Africa Area (EPFAT Area, country-based, south of the Sahara, complementary to the following); SA: Southern Africa Area (South Africa, Namibia, Botswana, Lesotho, Swaziland); NA: North Africa (Mauritania, Morocco, Canary Isl., Algeria, Tunisia, Libya, Egypt, Madeira); MA: Madagascar (Malagasy Republic). # Global conservation status according to IUCN [32]. * Conservation status according to The Red List of South African Plants (SANBI) [33]; LC: Least Concern; DDT: Data Deficient—Taxonomically Problematic; VU: Vulnerable. @ East Tropical Africa Conservation status [8]; CE: Critically Endangered; VU: Vulnerable; NT: Near Threatened; LC: Least Concern
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