Bont-o-t'korrie

Taxonomy
Scientific Name
Aloe arenicola Reynolds
Higher Classification
Monocotyledons
Family
ASPHODELACEAE
Common Names
Bont-o-t'korrie (a)
National Status
Status and Criteria
Near Threatened B1ab(iii)+2ab(iii)
Assessment Date
2018/10/19
Assessor(s)
H. Mtshali, J.E. Victor & G.F. Smith
Justification
Aloe arenicola has a restricted range (EOO 4222 km², AOO 88 km²), and continues to decline due to ongoing habitat loss and degradation. There are however between 10 and 15 remaining locations, and therefore it nearly meets the thresholds for Vulnerable under criterion B.
Distribution
Endemism
South African endemic
Provincial distribution
Northern Cape, Western Cape
Range
Aloe arenicola is confined to a narrow coastal band along the West Coast of South Africa between Alexander Bay and Lambert's Bay.
Habitat and Ecology
Major system
Terrestrial
Major habitats
Namaqualand Coastal Duneveld, Namaqualand Inland Duneveld, Namaqualand Strandveld, Richtersveld Coastal Duneveld, Namaqualand Heuweltjie Strandveld, Lambert's Bay Strandveld
Description
Deep sandy soils on coastal dunes.
Threats
Historically, A. arenicola was threatened by overgrazing by livestock. In the extremely arid region where this species grows, livestock often browse on the leaves of A. arenicola once more palatable shrubs have become extirpated (Verdoorn 1966). According to Reynolds (1969) there used to be large populations of A. arenicola between Hondeklip Bay and Kleinsee, but most of these have been destroyed by severe overgrazing by goats and sheep. However, recent specimen collections indicate that although much reduced, A. arenicola can still be found in this area. Severely destructive open cast mining of mineral rich sands along the West Coast dunes have also destroyed large areas of A. arenicola's habitat within the last 15 years, and loss continues, with significant mining expansion around Kleinsee and Port Nolloth. Overcollecting by succulent enthusiasts is a minor threat. Van Wyk and Smith (1996) classifies A. arenicola as vulnerable to extinction due to the threat of overgrazing and mining, however Van Wyk and Smith (2003) considers the population to have recovered enough to support a downlisting to Near Threatened.
Population

Formerly large populations have been severely reduced due to overgrazing and mining. Although there has been some population recovery (Van Wyk and Smith 2003), a continuing population decline is inferred from ongoing habitat loss.


Population trend
Decreasing
Assessment History
Taxon assessed
Status and Criteria
Citation/Red List version
Aloe arenicola ReynoldsNT B1ab(ii,iii,iv,v)Raimondo et al. (2009)
Aloe arenicola ReynoldsLower Risk - Least Concern Victor (2002)
Aloe arenicola ReynoldsVulnerable Hilton-Taylor (1996)
Bibliography

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.


Goldblatt, P. and Manning, J.C. 2000. Cape Plants: A conspectus of the Cape Flora of South Africa. Strelitzia 9. National Botanical Institute, Cape Town.


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.


Reynolds, G.W. 1969. The Aloes of South Africa. A.A. Balkema, Cape Town.


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.


Van Wyk, B.-E. and Smith, G. 1996. Guide to the aloes of South Africa. Briza Publications, Pretoria.


Van Wyk, B.-E. and Smith, G. 2003. Guide to aloes of South Africa. (2nd ed.). Briza Publications, Pretoria.


Verdoorn, I.C. 1966. Aloe arenicola. Flowering Plants of Africa 37:t. 1467.


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
Mtshali, H., Victor, J.E. & Smith, G.F. 2018. Aloe arenicola Reynolds. National Assessment: Red List of South African Plants version . Accessed on 2025/05/17

Comment on this assessment Comment on this assessment
Distribution map

© C. Paterson-Jones

© C. Paterson-Jones


Search for images of Aloe arenicola on iNaturalist