Narcisse annelé

The strong habitat transformation documented in littoral areas along the Mediterranean coastline is the main threat to this species, leading to the extinction of some subpopulations, and impeding the genetic flux among them (Costa 1999, Balestri and Cinelli 2004, Demur et al. 2010). 

The increasing interests on the galanthamine-related alkaloid content of the Amaryllidaceae for pharmaceutical purposes (Berkov et al. 2014, Hanks 2002, Pigni et al. 2012) would represent a threat in the near future, since plants from natural habitats remain an important source of these bioactive substances for the pharmaceutical industry (Berkov et al. 2011). 

Uncontrolled harvesting for commercial purposes is a documented risk for this plant in Malta (MEPA 2009). Moreover, it is one of the most popular autumn blooming species for gardening, what may increase the risk locally.

This species is not present in protected areas in Spain (Rubio et al. 2013) or throughout its range (IUCN and UNEP-WCMC 2017). It is not legally protected at European level. In Spain, it is assessed as Data Deficient at national level (Moreno et al. 2008). In Malta, the species is legally protected under de Schedule VIII for Animal and Plant Species of Natural Interest whose taking in the wild and exploitation may be subjected to Management Measures (MEPA 2009).

Ex-Situ conservation strategies in place are stored seed samples for medium and long-term conservation at the Torretes Botanical Garden of the Research Institute CIBIO-University of Alicante in Spain.

Additional prospections to know the accurate distribution of this species in the Iberian Peninsula are recommended.