Leucocoryne coquimbensis

This species has only been recorded from the Chilean Matorral ecoregion. After many years of intensive grazing, vegetation removal, and burning, vast areas of matorral have been converted to degraded habitats, susceptible to erosion and invasion of alien vegetation (Meserve et al. 2019). Major threats to the ecoregion are presented by fire, logging, urbanisation, and invasive species; notably, wildfires represent a threat to native vegetation, as fire adaptation is far less common in Chilean flora than other Mediterranean-type biomes (Meserve et al. 2019). Additionally, owing to its ornamental value (Belov 2005), overcollection of wild plants may represent a species-specific threat. However, it should be noted that this species has been described as extremely frequent throughout its distribution (Zöllner 1972, Belov 2005) and was listed as 'out of danger' in a study investigating the conservation status of native flora in the Coquimbo Region (Orchard et al. 2009). As such, it is considered unlikely that any of the threats outlined will affect the extinction risk of this species in a short time. Further research into threats in action would be beneficial to confirm this.

Three germplasm accessions of natural origin are held by the Millennium Seed Bank Project in the UK (Genesys 2021). It is held in ex situ conservation at seven botanic gardens worldwide (BGCI 2021). The species has been documented from the La Campana - Peñuelas and Bosque Fray Jorge UNESCO-MAB Biosphere Reserves, and the Las Salinas de Huentelauquén Ramsar Site (UNEP-WCMC and IUCN 2021); passive conservation is presumed in these areas, but it is not known whether active management is practised. The species was listed as 'out of danger' in a study investigating the conservation status of native flora in the Coquimbo Region (Orchard et al. 2009). Further research into the conservation status of the varietal forms may be beneficial in the future (L. Oakley pers. comm. 2022).