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Scientific Name | Aloe spectabilis Reynolds |
Higher Classification | Monocotyledons |
Family | ASPHODELACEAE |
Common Names | Natal Aloe (e), Natal-aalwyn (a), Umhlaba (z) |
National Status |
Status and Criteria | Least Concern |
Assessment Date | 2018/10/30 |
Assessor(s) | H. Mtshali & L. von Staden |
Justification | Aloe spectabilis is widespread, common and not in danger of extinction. |
Distribution |
Endemism | South African endemic |
Provincial distribution | KwaZulu-Natal |
Range | This species is endemic to central KwaZulu-Natal, where it occurs in the Bushman's, Mooi and Tugela river valleys between Dundee, Bergville and Greytown. |
Habitat and Ecology |
Major system | Terrestrial |
Major habitats | Thukela Thornveld, Thukela Valley Bushveld, KwaZulu-Natal Highland Thornveld |
Description | It prefers hot, dry rocky slopes in thornveld and valley bushveld. |
Threats |
| This species has no severe threats. |
Population |
The species is locally abundant, with subpopulations numbering thousands of individuals covering entire hillsides, particularly in the Tugela River Valley.
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Population trend | Stable |
Notes |
| A. spectabilis is very similar to the very widespread and common Aloe marlothii, and was formerly synonymised with this species, but it was recently reinstated (Klopper and Smith 2010). |
Assessment History |
Taxon assessed |
Status and Criteria |
Citation/Red List version | | Aloe spectabilis Reynolds | Least Concern | 2011.1 | |
Bibliography |
Klopper, R.R. and Smith, G.F. 2010. Asphodelaceae: Alooideae: Reinstatement of Aloe spectabilis. Bothalia 40(1):91-93.
Reynolds, G.W. 1969. The Aloes of South Africa. A.A. Balkema, Cape Town.
Van Wyk, B.-E. and Smith, G.F. 2014. Guide to the Aloes of South Africa. (Third ed.). Briza Publications, Pretoria.
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Citation |
| Mtshali, H. & von Staden, L. 2018. Aloe spectabilis Reynolds. National Assessment: Red List of South African Plants version . Accessed on 2025/05/13 |
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