Taxonomy
Scientific Name
Aloe monotropa I.Verd.
Higher Classification
Monocotyledons
Family
ASPHODELACEAE
National Status
Status and Criteria
Vulnerable D2
Assessment Date
2018/10/15
Assessor(s)
H. Mtshali, J.E. Victor & G.F. Smith
Justification
Aloe monotropa is a highly localized species, with an extent of occurrence (EOO) of 6 km², and estimated to have between one and three locations, depending on the impact of threats. It is potentially threatened by illegal succulent collecting and habitat loss to mining.
Distribution
Endemism
South African endemic
Provincial distribution
Limpopo
Range
This species is endemic to a small area in the southern Wolkberg Mountains above Olifants River Valley in Limpopo Province.
Habitat and Ecology
Major system
Terrestrial
Major habitats
Poung Dolomite Mountain Bushveld
Description
It occurs on steep, rocky slopes at the margins of closed woodland, 1000-1400 m.
Threats
The area where this species occurs is in a valley above a disused mine. Renewed interest in mining in the area is a potential threat to A. monotropa. It is also potentially threatened by illegal removal of plants by succulent enthusiasts (Van Wyk and Smith 2014).
Population

This species is known from a few, small isolated occurrences, and the global population is suspected to be small (Van Wyk and Smith 2014). It occurs in a remote and inaccessible area, and it is therefore difficult to estimate the population size. The current population trend is not known, but it is not suspected to be declining. There however exists serious potential threats, particularly habitat loss to mining, that could rapidly increase its risk of extinction, if they were to occur. Field monitoring is needed.


Population trend
Unknown
Assessment History
Taxon assessed
Status and Criteria
Citation/Red List version
Aloe monotropa I.Verd.VU D2Raimondo et al. (2009)
Aloe monotropa I.Verd.VU D2Victor (2002)
Aloe monotropa I.Verd.Rare Hilton-Taylor (1996)
Aloe monotropa I.Verd.Vulnerable Hall et al. (1980)
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.


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.


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., Victor, J.E. & Smith, G.F. 2018. Aloe monotropa I.Verd. National Assessment: Red List of South African Plants version . Accessed on 2025/05/25

Comment on this assessment Comment on this assessment
Distribution map


Search for images of Aloe monotropa on iNaturalist