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Scientific Name | Aloiampelos decumbens (Reynolds) Klopper & Gideon.F.Sm. |
Higher Classification | Monocotyledons |
Family | ASPHODELACEAE |
Synonyms | Aloe decumbens (Reynolds) Van Jaarsv., Aloe gracilis Haw. var. decumbens Reynolds |
Common Names | Rankaalwyn (a) |
National Status |
Status and Criteria | Vulnerable D2 |
Assessment Date | 2019/12/02 |
Assessor(s) | L. von Staden |
Justification | Aloiampelos decumbens is a rare, range-restricted habitat specialist. It has an extent of occurrence (EOO) of 13 km², and an area of occupancy (AOO) of 28 km². It is known from five locations, and potentially threatened by competition from alien invasive plants. |
Distribution |
Endemism | South African endemic |
Provincial distribution | Western Cape |
Range | This species is endemic to the Langeberg Mountains in the Western Cape, South Africa, where it occurs between Heidelberg and Cloete's Pass. |
Habitat and Ecology |
Major system | Terrestrial |
Major habitats | South Outeniqua Sandstone Fynbos, South Langeberg Sandstone Fynbos |
Description | It occurs on steep rocky slopes and cliffs in sandstone fynbos. |
Threats |
| Much of the lower slopes of the Langeberg Mountains around Garcia's Pass have been planted with timber plantations. This is unlikely to have directly impacted this species, as its specific habitat is unsuitable to plantations. However, escaping pine seedlings could potentially outcompete native species if left unmanaged. Alien invasive species have been recorded in this species' habitat further east. |
Population |
Plants were described as locally common in the 1960s (Reynolds 1969), but restricted to a few isolated places. According to Van Wyk and Smith (2014), this species is becoming increasingly rare. Van Jaarsveld (2008) however reports that the species is locally abundant on north- and south-facing slopes in the Langeberg.
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Population trend | Unknown |
Assessment History |
Taxon assessed |
Status and Criteria |
Citation/Red List version | | Aloiampelos decumbens (Reynolds) Klopper & Gideon.F.Sm. | VU D2 | 2014.1 | | Aloe gracilis Haw. var. decumbens Reynolds | Data Deficient | Victor (2002) | | Aloe gracilis Haw. var. decumbens Reynolds | Rare | Hilton-Taylor (1996) | |
Bibliography |
Grace, O.M., Klopper, R.R., Smith, G.F., Crouch, N.R., Figueiredo, E., Rønsted, N. and Van Wyk, A.E. 2013. A revised generic classification for Aloe (Xanthorrhoeaceae subfam. Asphodeloideae). Phytotaxa 76(1):7-14.
Hilton-Taylor, C. 1996. Red Data List of southern African plants. 1. Corrections and additions. Bothalia 26(2):177-182.
Manning, J.C. and Goldblatt, P. 2012. Plants of the Greater Cape Floristic Region 1: The Core Cape Flora. Strelitzia 29. South African National Biodiversity Institute, Pretoria.
Reynolds, G.W. 1969. The Aloes of South Africa. A.A. Balkema, Cape Town.
Van Jaarsveld, E.J. 2008. Aloe juddii, a new species from the Western Cape, and A. gracilis var. decumbens raised to species level. Aloe 45(1):4-10.
Van Wyk, B.-E. and Smith, G.F. 2014. Guide to the Aloes of South Africa. (Third ed.). Briza Publications, Pretoria.
Victor, J.E. 2002. South Africa. In: J.S. Golding (ed), Southern African plant Red Data Lists. Southern African Botanical Diversity Network Report 14 (pp. 93-120), SABONET, Pretoria.
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Citation |
| von Staden, L. 2019. Aloiampelos decumbens (Reynolds) Klopper & Gideon.F.Sm. National Assessment: Red List of South African Plants version . Accessed on 2025/06/27 |
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