Taxonomy
Scientific Name
Aloe soutpansbergensis I.Verd.
Higher Classification
Monocotyledons
Family
ASPHODELACEAE
National Status
Status and Criteria
Rare
Assessment Date
2018/10/19
Assessor(s)
H. Mtshali, L. von Staden, J.E. Victor & G.F. Smith
Justification
Aloe soutpansbergensis is a range-restricted species, with an extent of occurrence (EOO) of 113 km². It is however locally common and is not declining, and therefore it is not considered to be in danger of extinction.
Distribution
Endemism
South African endemic
Provincial distribution
Limpopo
Range
This species is endemic to the western Soutpansberg Mountains in northern Limpopo Province, South Africa.
Habitat and Ecology
Major system
Terrestrial
Major habitats
Soutpansberg Mountain Bushveld, Soutpansberg Summit Sourveld
Description
It occurs in thin soils on steep, south-facing mountain slopes and cliffs in the mistbelt region above 1500 m.
Threats
The number of plants at the type locality declined greatly due to illegal collecting between 1962 and 1969 (Reynolds 1969). However, the extreme Aloe collecting frenzy of the 1960s have subsided and collecting is no longer a serious threat. The subpopulation at the type locality appears to have recovered, because according to Craib (2005) the species is locally common at this site. Most of the subpopulations are on privately owned land and the habitat as well as the sites are fairly inaccessible. A. soutpansbergensis is not in immediate danger of extinction (Craib 2005).
Population

Although this species has a restricted range, it is locally common. There are no severe threats to this species, and therefore the population is not suspected to be declining.


Population trend
Stable
Assessment History
Taxon assessed
Status and Criteria
Citation/Red List version
Aloe soutpansbergensis I.Verd.Rare Raimondo et al. (2009)
Aloe soutpansbergensis I.Verd.VU B1B2beVictor (2002)
Aloe soutpansbergensis I.Verd.Rare Hilton-Taylor (1996)
Aloe soutpansbergensis I.Verd.Rare Hall et al. (1980)
Bibliography

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


Hahn, N. 2002. Endemic flora of the Soutpansberg. Unpublished MSc, Univeristy of Natal, Pietermaritzburg.


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., von Staden, L., Victor, J.E. & Smith, G.F. 2018. Aloe soutpansbergensis I.Verd. National Assessment: Red List of South African Plants version . Accessed on 2025/04/24

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