Merwilla plumbea

Merwilla plumbea, also known as the blue squill, is a threatened bulb-forming perennial herb in the small genus Merwilla endemic to the Drakensberg.^[1][2]

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

Distribution

Merwilla plumbea is found in the eastern part of South Africa, in Eswatini and Lesotho.^[2]

Habitat

Merwilla plumbea is found on rocky, well-drained slopes at altitudes between 300-2500 metres.^[2]

Ecology

Mature individuals are thought to live, on average, for 25 years.^[2]

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.^[2]

Taxonomy

Illustration showing plant details.

Two subspecies are recognised:^[3]

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

M. plumbea subsp. plumbea flowers