Taxonomy
Scientific Name
Aloe reitzii Reynolds var. vernalis D.S.Hardy
Higher Classification
Monocotyledons
Family
ASPHODELACEAE
National Status
Status and Criteria
Vulnerable D2
Assessment Date
2018/11/19
Assessor(s)
H. Mtshali, J.E. Victor & E. van Wyk
Justification
This taxon is known from a single, isolated subpopulation. It has an extent of occurrence (EOO) of less than 1 km². The population is currently stable, but is potentially threatened by changes in native species dynamics and competition from alien invasive plants.
Distribution
Endemism
South African endemic
Provincial distribution
KwaZulu-Natal
Range
This taxon is known from a single locality between Paulpietersburg and Vryheid in northern KwaZulu-Natal.
Habitat and Ecology
Major system
Terrestrial
Major habitats
KwaZulu-Natal Highland Thornveld
Description
It occurs in well-drained, humus-rich soil on steep, broken granite slopes in grassland.
Threats
Field surveys on the only known subpopulation noted individuals that were dislodged from the cliff face where they grow and had fallen down into the riverbed. It is not known what had caused these plants to have become dislodged. According to the landowner, baboons like to eat the flowers and may have pushed over plants to reach the flowers. Monitoring of the population is required to determine whether this is causing an ongoing decline in the population. There is unmanaged prickly pear seedlings invading this species' habitat. This could be a severe threat in future, and such invasions would be difficult to clear due to the inaccessibility of the habitat.
Population

Recent field surveys indicate that the population is stable. The population consists of several thousand plants.


Population trend
Stable
Assessment History
Taxon assessed
Status and Criteria
Citation/Red List version
Aloe reitzii Reynolds var. vernalis D.S.HardyVU D22020.1
Aloe reitzii Reynolds var. vernalis D.S.HardyCR B1ab(v)+2ab(v)Raimondo et al. (2009)
Aloe reitzii Reynolds var. vernalis D.S.HardyVU D2Victor (2002)
Aloe reitzii ReynoldsData Deficient Scott-Shaw (1999)
Aloe reitzii Reynolds var. vernalis D.S.HardyRare Hilton-Taylor (1996)
Aloe reitzii Reynolds var. vernalis D.S.HardyUncertain 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.


Hardy, D.S. and Reid, C. 1981. A new variety of Aloe from the Vryheid district: Aloe reitzii var vernalis. Bothalia 13(3&4):451-452.


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.


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. & van Wyk, E. 2018. Aloe reitzii Reynolds var. vernalis D.S.Hardy. National Assessment: Red List of South African Plants version . Accessed on 2025/03/22

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Distribution map

© E. van Wyk

© E. van Wyk

© E. van Wyk

© E. van Wyk

© E. van Wyk


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