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Merwilla plumbea
Conservation status
Near Threatened (SANBI Red List)
Scientific classification
Kingdom:	Plantae
Clade:	Tracheophytes
Clade:	Angiosperms
Clade:	Monocots
Order:	Asparagales
Family:	Asparagaceae
Subfamily:	Scilloideae
Genus:	Merwilla
Species:	M. plumbea
Binomial name
Merwilla plumbea (Lindl.) Speta

Merwilla plumbea, also known as the blue squill, is a threatened bulb-forming perennial herb in the small genus Merwilla endemic to the Drakensberg.

Distribution

Merwilla plumbea is found in the eastern part of South Africa, in Eswatini and Lesotho.

Habitat

Merwilla plumbea is found on rocky, well-drained slopes at altitudes between 300-2500 metres.

Ecology

Mature individuals are thought to live, on average, for 25 years.

Conservation status

Merwilla plumbea has been assessed as near threatened due to a 25% decline in the local population from intensive poaching of the bulbs in the wild. In 2006, 1 851 580 bulbs in the Warwick Muti Market and 235 872 bulbs were sold in the Faraday Muti Market.

Taxonomy

Two subspecies are recognised:

• Merwilla plumbea subsp. kraussii (Baker) J.C.Manning, syn. Scilla kraussii
• Merwilla plumbea subsp. plumbea, syn. Scilla natalensis

References

1. ‹ The template below (WCSP) is being considered for deletion. See templates for discussion to help reach a consensus. ›

   "Merwilla plumbea", World Checklist of Selected Plant Families (WCSP), Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew, retrieved 2020-03-20

2. ^ "Threatened Species Programme | SANBI Red List of South African Plants". redlist.sanbi.org. Retrieved 2024-01-14.
3. "Search for Merwilla plumbea", World Checklist of Selected Plant Families, Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew, retrieved 2020-03-20

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