Runde Cycad

Surveys of the known subpopulations indicate that 58 mature plants were counted in the location at Gwanda (West Nicolson) in 1991 and remained stable when the subpopulation was assessed in 2007 (Timberlake and Mapaure 2007). This subpopulation occurs within a well protected conservancy and is considered stable. The subpopulation at Mberengwa was the largest subpopulation: in 1968, the species was regarded as common (Mapaura 2002) and was assessed as healthy with many plants in 1991 (Timberlake and Mapaure 2007). However, the subpopulation is now experiencing an ongoing decline with an estimated  >500 plants in 2000, declining to ca. 300 plants in 2012 and ca. 100 plants in 2020 (I. Waters pers. comm. 2020). The third locality near Runde was the smallest and was estimated to comprise 10 plants in 1968 (Mapaura 2002) with a high threat from illegal plant collecting for the ornamental trade. The subpopulation near Runde is now considered to be extinct.