Narcissus alcaracensis

Changes in land use for agricultural purposes and the abandonment of traditional management are the main threats to this species in the near future. Grazing by livestock, mainly from local races of sheep ‘Segureña’ and goat ‘Blanca Andaluza’ and ‘Negra Serrana’ as well as summer burning on lagoon borders, produce a serious decline of the population of this species. These impacts lead to the dominance in the ecosystem by megaforbic, helophytic communities such as Phragmites australis and a decreased ability of the species to compete in these circumstances.

Since this species is strongly linked to wet and temporary inundated environments, increased drought and desertification associated with groundwater abstraction could negatively affect its survival in the short-medium term.

The increasing interests in the galanthamine-related alkaloid content of the Amaryllidaceae species for pharmaceutical purposes (Berkov et al. 2014) could represent a threat in the near future since there is no possibility of industrial synthesis of these bioactive substances and plants remain as an important source (Berkov et al. 2011). The uncontrolled harvesting for commercial purposes known in the past of other taxa belonging to the subgenus Ajax is a possible risk to bear in mind for this rare plant.

The entire population occurs in the protected area Parque Natural de los Galares del Mundo y de la Sima (IUCN and UNEP-WCMC 2017). It has been assessed as Endangered at the national level (Moreno 2008) and as Vulnerable at the regional level of Castilla-La Mancha (Diario Oficial de Castilla-La Mancha 2001).

The species is cultivated ex situ at the University of Castilla-La Mancha and Torretes Botanical Garden (Institute of Biodiversity CIBIO-University of Alicante). Also, long-term seed conservation is carried out in different genebanks of Spain, including Torretes and Castilla-La Mancha Botanical Gardens and the National Genebank in the Center for Plant Genetic Resources (CSIC-FB 2014). Seed germination is achieved in the laboratory in a wide range of temperatures (Herranz et al. 2013). This information might be the starting point to develop germination protocols in genebanks. Other ongoing conservation strategies include the establishment of in vitro collections at the University of Alicante. The multiplication of in vitro cultures was possible and high rates of rooting and satisfactory acclimatization was also achieved (Juan-Vicedo et al. 2015). This plant material can be used in plant reintroduction programs.

Water resource management in order to regulate over abstraction is the most important conservation measure needed for this species at present. More research is also required to clarify its taxonomic status and avoid misidentifications which may have a negative impact on the species´ conservation. Additional population and habitat monitoring, habitat protection (through the creation of a micro-reserve and control of visitors and livestock), and control of livestock grazing and bulb collection are also recommended.