Isiphuthumane

Taxonomy
Scientific Name
Aloe minima Baker
Higher Classification
Monocotyledons
Family
ASPHODELACEAE
Synonyms
Aloe minima Baker var. blyderivierensis (Groenew.) Reynolds, Leptaloe blyderivierensis Groenew., Leptaloe minima (Baker) Stapf
Common Names
Isiphuthumane (z), Isipukushane (z), Isipukutwane (z), Isiputuma (z)
National Status
Status and Criteria
Least Concern
Assessment Date
2018/10/08
Assessor(s)
H. Mtshali & L. von Staden
Justification
Aloe minima is a widespread and common species. Although it is declining due to habitat loss over much of its range, it is not yet in danger of extinction.
Distribution
Endemism
Not endemic to South Africa
Provincial distribution
Eastern Cape, KwaZulu-Natal, Mpumalanga
Range
This species is widespread across eastern South Africa, occurring along the Mpumalanga Escarpment, from the Blyde River Canyon southwards through eastern Mpumalanga and the KwaZulu-Natal Midlands to the coastal grasslands of southern KwaZulu-Natal and Pondoland. It also occurs in western Swaziland. According to Glen and Hardy (2000), it occurs in the savanna and coastal grasslands of north-eastern KwaZulu-Natal, but Craib (2005) and Van Wyk and Smith (2014) does not recognise it from this area.
Habitat and Ecology
Major system
Terrestrial
Major habitats
Grassland, Indian Ocean Coastal Belt
Description
This species occurs in short, open montane and coastal grasslands, often in fairly heavy soils with loose stones.
Threats
Aloe minima has lost large areas of suitable habitat to timber plantations on the Mpumalanga Escarpment, around Piet Retief and in the KwaZulu-Natal Midlands in the past. There is no longer significant expansion of plantations, however small grassland fragments between plantations are often invaded by alien species that are outcompeting native species, as well as subjected to inappropriate fire management, either with too frequent fires in fire breaks, or too infrequent fires elsewhere to avoid risks of damage to plantations. Along the KwaZulu-Natal coast it has lost habitat to sugarcane cultivation, and continues to decline due to habitat loss to coastal development and spreading rural settlements and subsistence agriculture. Around Durban and Pietermaritzburg it is declining due to habitat loss to urban expansion. The species has also disappeared from areas in south-eastern Mpumalanga due to overgrazing by livestock (Craib 2005).
Population

Aloe minima is declining due to ongoing loss and degradation of grasslands over much of its range (Craib 2005), but is still very common. Subpopulations are large, consisting of several hundred to thousands of individuals.


Population trend
Decreasing
Assessment History
Taxon assessed
Status and Criteria
Citation/Red List version
Aloe minima BakerLeast Concern Raimondo et al. (2009)
Aloe parviflora BakerData Deficient Victor (2002)
Aloe parviflora BakerData Deficient Scott-Shaw (1999)
Aloe minima BakerNot Threatened Hilton-Taylor (1996)
Aloe minima Baker var. blyderivierensis (Groenew.) ReynoldsRare Hall et al. (1980)
Bibliography

Craib, C. 2005. Grass Aloes in the South African Veld. Umdaus Press, Hatfield.


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.


Hall, A.V., De Winter, M., De Winter, B. and Van Oosterhout, S.A.M. 1980. Threatened plants of southern Africa. South African National Scienctific Programmes Report 45. CSIR, Pretoria.


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


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.


Scott-Shaw, C.R. 1999. Rare and threatened plants of KwaZulu-Natal and neighbouring regions. KwaZulu-Natal Nature Conservation Service, Pietermaritzburg.


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.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.


Citation
Mtshali, H. & von Staden, L. 2018. Aloe minima Baker. National Assessment: Red List of South African Plants version . Accessed on 2025/04/18

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