Endangered succulents plants due to illegal wild picking
In the past few years, collecting and growing succulents has become increasingly popular around the world. Unfortunately this new interest was based also from trends fueled by instagram and has negatively impacted a number of succulent species in the wild. Many succulents, including the rare ones on this list, are illegally collected in the wild and sold to collectors around the world.
This has caused that many succulents in their wild habitats aare very close to extinction. So while it may be nice to admire these rare succulents, be sure that any in your own collection were ethically sourced.
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1. Discocactus subterraneo-proliferans
Current Estimated Number in nature: likely extinct in the wild, fewer than 50 in private collections
Locations: Britania, Goiás, Brazil
Scientific Name: Discocactus subterraneo-proliferans
Not much is known about the Discocactus subterraneo-proliferans, other than it may be extinct in the wild. It is listed on the IUCN as critically endangered and it is believed that there may be fewer than 50 plants being grown privately by people around the world. This makes the Discocactus subterraneo-proliferans the rarest succulent in the world.
This particular Discocactus is native to one region in Brazil and is nearly extinct because its natural habitat was cleared and plowed for small-scale agriculture and cattle ranching. While all species of Discocactus are fairly rare because they’re hard to cultivate, the Discocactus subterraneo-proliferans is the rarest. There are succulent enthusiasts in the U.S. and the United Kingdom who are growing the Discocactus subterraneo-proliferans.
2.Parodia rechensis
Current Estimated Number in nature: about 70
Location (Range): Rio Grande do Sul
Scientific Name: Parodia rechensis
Like many of the succulents on this list, the Parodia rechensis is rare because its hard to grow and its natural habitat is threatened. Although the Parodia, which is also known as the Notocactus rechensis, is listed as critically endangered in the Rio Grande do Sul threatened species list, the area where the succulent is naturally grows is not protected.
In 2012, extensive research into the status of Parodia rechensis was conducted. The scientists discovered that the Parodia rechensis is near extinction in the wild and that there are only two surviving populations of the succulent. At the time, the scientists only found about 42 Parodia rechensis and according to the IUCN Red List, there may only be about 70 or so plants left today.
3. Aichryson dumosum
The Aichryson dumosum, which doesn’t have a common name because its so rare, is a succulent native to one area in Madeira, Portugal. Currently, it is estimated that there are about 50 to 250 Aichryson dumosum plants remaining in the wild and its numbers are continuing to decline. The area that the Aichryson dumosum lives on is only about 100 m² (1,076.4 ft²) and is a protected region.Although the Aichryson dumosum‘s habitat is protected, the succulent is still threatened by invasive species, trampling, fires, droughts, and landslides. Due to its low population size, the Aichryson dumosum is considered critically endangered. Some of the recommended conservation actions are to raise public awareness about Aichryson dumosum.
4.Pelotilla de Chinamada
Current Estimated Number: fewer than 600
Location (Range): Tenerife, Canary Islands, Spain
Scientific Name: Monanthes wildpretii
The Pelotilla de Chinamada is a rare succulent that only grows on the island of Tenerife in the Canary Islands of Spain. Every single known Pelotilla de Chinamada grows in an area that is only about 1 km² (0.386 mi²) in size. In 2009, the population count of Pelotilla de Chinamada was reported as 593 individuals and 504 of those were mature plants.
Pelotilla de Chinamada grow tends to grow in fissures and crevices. It also often grows near other succulents from the Monanthes genus. The already small population of Pelotilla de Chinamada has been negatively affected by its proximity to a frequently traveled road. This has caused the Pelotilla de Chinamada’s habitat to degrade and the succulent is also vulnerable to being collected and sold as a rare plant.
Source: wikipedia.org
