Chlorophytum borivilianum

Unsustainable collection of the roots and tubers, and habitat loss are the major threats to this species. The increased commercial exploitation of Chlorophytum borivilianum and low productivity of this highly traded plant has raised concerns over its conservation status (Khanam et al. 2013). It has been reported that immature plants of Safed musli were mercilessly uprooted to collect maximum tubers without much effort after the commencement of (early) rains. Apart from destructive harvesting and lack of value addition, general absence of local level institutions deprive local collectors of fair and just wages for their work (Mishra and Kotwal 2009). Collection of roots from the forest is usually done before seed maturity, thus hampering natural regeneration and making the species rare in the wild (Nayar and Sastry 1988). This species is also threatened due to habitat loss in terms of agricultural expansion, road construction, urbanization and industrialization.

This species is an important medicinal plant and adulterated with Chlorophytum tuberosum which is traded in high volume from India. Habitat destruction is another problem. Therefore, regulation in trade, developing protocol for sustainable harvest, in situ conservation and habitat management are needed. The plants are propagated vegetatively (by root having a portion of stem disc) for commercial cultivation as well as by seeds (Bordia and Jat 1990, Maiti and Geetha 2005). Some attention and efforts have been brought into the system by identifying and documenting 100 forest areas (MPCAs). The wild presence of this species has been confirmed from MPCA area of Ramkunda in Rajasthan and Swarna of Maharashtra and it is expected that the MPCA program will promote in situ conservation of such species.