Dwarf jellico  (Sium burchellii)

Classified as Endangered (EN) on the IUCN Red List (1).

Dwarf jellico is a rare low-growing herbaceous plant confined to St Helena Island in the South Atlantic (1) (2). It has fleshy, hollow green stems and compound leaves made up of acutely toothed leaflets. The inflorescence comprises a flat-topped umbel of white flowers that develop into small green fruit (2).

Restricted to small and fragmented subpopulations on St Helena (1).

Grows on steep cliffs and rocky ledges amongst cabbage trees and tree ferns (1).

Little is known about the natural history of dwarf jellico except that it normally flowers during the southern hemisphere summer, from December to January (1)

The threat of alien plants outcompeting remaining subpopulations of dwarf jellico on St Helena is one of the primary concerns for this species. All the sub-populations grow on rocky outcrops where they face the additional threat of landslides. Concerns have also been raised that dwarf jellico is under threat from hybridisation with another St Helena endemic, large jellico (Sium bracteatum) (1).

Some dwarf jellico subpopulations are protected within the Diana’s Peak National Park, which is protected by a management plan (1). In the past, efforts have been made to ensure survival of this species by collecting seeds and planting seedlings in suitable habitat (1) (2). Currently, the St Helena National Trust is involved in efforts to control invasive plants and to conduct further research into additional conservation measures for the endemic fauna and flora (3).

To find out more about conservation on St Helena see:

• St Helena National Trust:
  www.nationaltrust.org.sh