Editing Fritillaria (section)

== Conservation ==

A number of species of Fritillaria are [[endangered]], from [[over-harvesting]], habitat fragmentation, over-grazing and international demand for herbals. These include many species in Greece,{{sfn|Samaropoulou et al|2016}} and ''[[Fritillaria gentneri]]'' in the pacific Northwest of North America.{{sfn|Gisler|Meinke|2003}} In Japan, five of the eight [[endemic]] species (subgenus ''Japonica'') are listed as endangered.{{sfn|Hill|2011}} In China, the collection of ''Fritillaria'' bulbs to make traditional medicine, particularly ''[[Fritillaria cirrhosa|F. cirrhosa]]'' from southwest China and the eastern Himalayas of Bhutan and Nepal and one of the most intensively harvested of the alpine [[medicinal plants]] threatens [[extinction]].{{sfn|Day et al|2014}}

In Iran, ''F. imperialis'' and ''F. persica'' are endangered and ''F. imperialis'' is protected. The genus is threatened by irregular [[grazing]], change in [[pasture]] usage, [[pest (organism)|pest]] (primarily ''[[Lilioceris|Lilioceris chodjaii]]''){{sfn|Ardakani|2014}} migration from pasture destruction, and [[harvesting]] by poor people for sale to florists.{{sfn|Bonyadi et al|2017}}{{sfn|Ebrahimie et al|2006}}

One species, ''F. delavayi'', has begun to grow brown, greyish flowers to better camouflage amongst the rock of its habitat. Scientists believe it is evolving to combat its biggest predator — humans. Over-picking has greatly decreased the availability of this species in China and even though there is no known difference between the flowers picked in the wild and those grown commercially, hunters continue to believe the wild flowers offer better medicinal benefit.<ref>{{Cite web|date=2021-02-08|title=This in-demand plant is evolving to hide from its predator—humans|url=https://www.nationalgeographic.com/environment/2021/02/this-in-demand-plant-is-evolving-to-hide-from-human-predators/|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210208192816/https://www.nationalgeographic.com/environment/2021/02/this-in-demand-plant-is-evolving-to-hide-from-human-predators/|url-status=dead|archive-date=February 8, 2021|access-date=2021-02-09|website=Environment|language=en}}</ref>