Species Use Database

Leopard orchid, Tiger orchid
Ansellia spp.

Used for Medicine and hygiene, Collection/display and Scientific Research in Kenya

A. Species

Scientific name: Ansellia spp.

Common name(s): Leopard orchid, Tiger orchid

Global IUCN Red List Threat Status:


B. Location of use

Geographic location(s):

  • Kenya

Country/Region:


C. Scale of assessment

Scale of assessment: National Level

Name/Details of location: Kenya


D. Timescale of use

Start Year: 1997

End Year: 2007


E. Information about the use

How is the wild species sourced?: Wild species sourced from its natural habitat

Type of use: Extractive

Practice of use: Gathering/Cutting/Collecting terrestrial plants and fungi or their products from the wild

Lethal or non-lethal: Lethal and Non-Lethal

Does this use involve take/extraction of: The whole entire organism

Purpose(s) of end use: Medicine and hygiene, Collection/display and Scientific Research

Motivation of use: Income generation from trade (individual/household/community) and Largescale commercial exploitation for trade

Is this use legal or illegal?: Legal under national law


F. Information about the Users

Which stakeholder(s) does the record primarily focus on?: National / local government


G. Information about the sustainability of use

Is there evidence that the use is having an impact on the target species?: Wild species sourced from its natural habitat

Has an assessment (or judgement) of sustainability of the use of the target species from an ecological perspective been recorded?: Yes, considered unsustainable

Details of assessment carried out: This NDF Case study

Brief summary on why the use has been assessed/judged to be sustainable or unsustainable: Ansellia populations, particularly at the Kenyan coast, have been drastically reduced and are still decreasing. This has been as a result of unmanaged and illegal exploitation of wild populations for commercial purposes especially at the national level. There is therefore a low confidence in the probability that the harvest is sustainable and requires attention/action.

Has an assessment (or judgement) of sustainability of the use of the target species from an economic perspective been recorded?: not recorded

Has an assessment (or judgement) of sustainability of the use of the target species from a social perspective been recorded?: not recorded

Has an assessment (or judgement) of sustainability of the use of the target species from a human health perspective been recorded?: No, sustainability not determined

Details of assessment carried out: This NDF Case study

Brief summary on why the use has been assessed/judged to be sustainable or unsustainable: These orchids are not harvested sustainably although infusions of the pseudobulb have been used to treat earache, throughout Africa, whereas extracts from roots, pseudobulbs and leaves have been used to treat diarrhoea and madness, and as an emetic in eastern and southern Africa.

Has an assessment (or judgement) of sustainability of the use of the target species from an animal health/welfare perspective been recorded?: not recorded


Recommendations provided in the record to maintain or enhance the sustainability of the use of the target species

• There is need for the development of standard NDFs procedure for Parties. • Species in trade should be subjected to an NDF process before and after listing on the Appendices. • There is need for Parties to develop an updated database on the status of species i.e., conservation and utilisation. Such a database should be linked to regional and global processes. • There is need for national management plans or equivalent in order to establish the process of sustainable use. • There is need for continuous training in NDFs procedures of managers and scientists in relevant institutions • Parties should be urged to avail funds and resources for NDFs.


Record source

Information about the record source: grey_lit

Date of publication/issue/production: 2008-01-01T00:00:00+0000

Source Reference(s):

NON-DETRIMENT FINDINGS FOR THE GENUS ANSELLIA LINDL. IN KENYA (2008).
By Beatrice Khayota
National Museums of Kenya
NDF WORKSHOP CASE STUDIES
WG 4 – Geophytes and Epiphytes
CASE STUDY 5
Ansellia Lindl
Country – KENYA

Date of record entry: 2023-10-04