The understanding of the biology of a plant species becomes increasingly important when wild gathering or collection is paired with utilisation on a commercial scale. In particular when the harvesting of the valuable parts suggests a potentially detrimental effect on the survival of the plant, issues of sustainability should receive increased attention. Various examples from other medicinal plant species show that the gathering of root or bark material may pose a threat to a species, if the resource is not managed properly (e.g. Prunus africana, Krameria lappacea). This also applies to Harpagophytum, a plant species gathered for its secondary root tubers from the wild in southern Africa. In order to be able to estimate the impact that harvesting may have on the wild populations as many data as possible should be collected on the biological status and ecology of Harpagophytum.