Taxonomy
Scientific Name
Aloe komaggasensis Kritz. & Van Jaarsv.
Higher Classification
Monocotyledons
Family
ASPHODELACEAE
Synonyms
Aloe striata Haw. subsp. komaggasensis (Kritzinger & Van Jaarsv.) Glen & D.S.Hardy
National Status
Status and Criteria
Vulnerable D2
Assessment Date
2018/11/26
Assessor(s)
G.F. Smith, E.J. van Jaarsveld & L. von Staden
Justification
Aloe komaggasensis is a highly range-restricted species (extent of occurrence 19 km², area of occupancy 16 km²) that is potentially threatened by succulent collecting and overgrazing.
Distribution
Endemism
South African endemic
Provincial distribution
Northern Cape
Range
This species is endemic to the Northern Cape, South Africa, where it is localized to the Namaqualand escarpment to the east of Komaggas.
Habitat and Ecology
Major system
Terrestrial
Major habitats
Namaqualand Klipkoppe Shrubland, Namaqualand Heuweltjieveld
Description
It occurs on rocky slopes of quartz koppies in succulent karoo-renosterveld transitional vegetation.
Threats
Aloe komaggasensis is a rare and highly localized species that has not yet been well established in cultivation (Van Wyk and Smith 2003). It is an unusual species, and therefore likely to be targeted by succulent collectors, but no evidence of collecting has been recorded yet (E. van Jaarsveld pers. comm.). Large areas of rangelands across Namaqualand are severely degraded due to overgrazing, and being such a localized species, A. komaggasensis could be significantly impacted by increasing grazing pressure.
Population

Plants appear to mainly divide vegetatively, and little recruitment has been observed. The subpopulation at the type locality is small, consisting of about 200 plants (G. Nicholson and E. van Jaarsveld pers. obs. 2008). The current population trend is not known, and this species needs to be monitored.


Population trend
Stable
Assessment History
Taxon assessed
Status and Criteria
Citation/Red List version
Aloe striata Haw. subsp. komaggasensis (Kritzinger & Van Jaarsv.) Glen & D.S.HardyVU D1+22012.1
Aloe striata Haw. subsp. komaggasensis (Kritzinger & Van Jaarsv.) Glen & D.S.HardyVU D2Raimondo et al. (2009)
Aloe striata Haw. subsp. komaggasensis (Kritzinger & Van Jaarsv.) Glen & D.S.HardyVU D2Victor (2002)
Aloe striata Haw. subsp. komaggasensis (Kritzinger & Van Jaarsv.) Glen & D.S.HardyRare Hilton-Taylor (1996)
Bibliography

Glen, H.F. and Hardy, D.S. 1987. Nomenclatural notes on three southern African representatives of the genus Aloe. South African Journal of Botany 53(6):489-492.


Glen, H.F. and Hardy, D.S. 2000. Aloaceae (First part): Aloe. In: G. Germishuizen (ed). Flora of Southern Africa 5 Part 1, Fascicle 1:1-159. National Botanical Institute, Pretoria.


Grace, O.M., Klopper, R.R., Figueiredo, E. and Smith, G.F. 2011. The Aloe names book. Strelitzia 28. South African National Biodiversity Institute, Pretoria.


Hilton-Taylor, C. 1996. Red data list of southern African plants. Strelitzia 4. South African National Botanical Institute, Pretoria.


Klopper, R.R. and Smith, G.F. 2007. The genus Aloe (Asphodelaceae: Alooideae) in Namaqualand, South Africa. Haseltonia 13:38-51.


Raimondo, D., von Staden, L., Foden, W., Victor, J.E., Helme, N.A., Turner, R.C., Kamundi, D.A. and Manyama, P.A. 2009. Red List of South African Plants. Strelitzia 25. South African National Biodiversity Institute, Pretoria.


Smith, G.F., Steyn, E.M.A., Victor, J.E., Crouch, N.R., Golding, J.S. and Hilton-Taylor, C. 2000. Aloaceae: The conservation status of Aloe in South Africa: an updated synopsis. Bothalia 30(2):206-211.


Snijman, D.A. 2013. Plants of the Greater Cape Floristic Region 2: The extra Cape flora. Strelitzia 30. South African National Biodiversity Institute, Pretoria.


Van Jaarsveld, E.J. 1985. Aloe komaggasensis: a new species from the northwestern Cape. South African Journal of Botany 51:287-289.


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.


Citation
Smith, G.F., van Jaarsveld, E.J. & von Staden, L. 2018. Aloe komaggasensis Kritz. & Van Jaarsv. National Assessment: Red List of South African Plants version . Accessed on 2025/04/24

Comment on this assessment Comment on this assessment
Distribution map

© G. Nicholson

© E.J. van Jaarsveld


Search for images of Aloe komaggasensis on iNaturalist