ABSTRACT
Asclepiads are represented by 250 genera and 3000 species mainly distributed in tropical and subtropical regions of the world. Jagtap and Singh (1999) reported that the former family Asclepiadaceae is represented by 43 genera and about 243 species in India. Out of 67 known Indian species of Ceropegia, 45 species and one variety are narrow endemics to Western Ghats, most of which are critically endangered. Most of the Brachystelmas and Ceropegias occur in critical habitat with anthropogenic pressure. Until now, no one species from these taxa has been assessed or monitored for determining threatened categories procedurally in Indian context. The categories have been given by herbarium records and specimens examined from different herbaria. Data on population trend, extent of occurrence (EOO), or area of occupancy (AOO) were not reported for any Brachystelmas and Ceropegias. Observed, estimated, inferred, or suspected decline in EOO, AOO, or population size has also not been reported until now. The species assessment was not compiled as per the IUCN guidelines and has not been reviewed for these two genera in India. Hence, the species status remains not evaluated (NA) on the IUCN Red List (IUCN, 2018). Indian Red Data Book mentioned 30 species of Ceropegia are in different threat categories, but no one Brachystelma has been included (Ahmedulla and Nair, 1983). Endemic vascular plants of India mentioned 16 species of Brachystema and 43 species of Ceropegia are narrow endemics to India (Singh et al., 2015).
