Ceropegia rapinatiana (Britto & Bruyns) Bruyns – An Endemic Species at the Verge of Extinction

The study is aimed to assess the threat to the endemic wild edible plant Ceropegia rapinatiana, which is used as a food source for the local community in Pudukkottai district, Tamil Nadu, India. This study strongly recommends the conservation of this plant to ensure its sustainable utilization. This highlights the importance of preserving the plant’s habitat and promoting responsible harvesting practices to the protection of its availability for the future generations. C. rapinatiana is found primarily in the central plains of Tamil Nadu covering parts of Tiruchirappalli and Pudukkottai districts, and it has been experiencing a continuous decline in population due to the harmful effects of anthropogenic activities, particularly unsustainable harvesting and consumption. As a result, C. rapinatiana is classified as Critically Endangered based on the assessment using the IUCN criteria. Given these circumstances, immediate and extensive conservation measures must be implemented by the local authorities to mitigate the threats and ensure the species’ survival.