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Scientific Name | Aloe succotrina Lam. |
Higher Classification | Monocotyledons |
Family | ASPHODELACEAE |
Synonyms | Aloe perfoliata L. var. purpurascens Aiton, Aloe perfoliata L. var. succotrina (Lam.) Aiton, Aloe perfoliata L. var. xi L., Aloe purpurascens (Aiton) Haw., Aloe sinuata Thunb., Aloe soccotorina Schult. & J.H.Schult., Aloe socotrina DC., Aloe socotrina DC. var. purpurascens (Aiton) Ker Gawl., Aloe succotrina Lam. var. saxigena A.Berger, Aloe vera Mill. (later homonym), not of (L.) Burm.f. (1768) |
Common Names | Bergaalwee (a), Bergaalwyn (a) |
National Status |
Status and Criteria | Least Concern |
Assessment Date | 2018/10/24 |
Assessor(s) | H. Mtshali & L. von Staden |
Justification | A. succotrina has a restricted range, with an extent of occurrence (EOO) of 2182 km². Some subpopulations on the lower slopes of Table Mountain and the Cape Peninsula may have declined due to urban expansion in the past, but there are more than 10 subpopulations remaining on upper slopes that are now protected in a national park. There are also no significant threats to subpopulations further along the coast, which tend to occur on steep slopes and cliffs that are unsuited to development. It is locally common, and therefore not considered to be in danger of extinction. |
Distribution |
Endemism | South African endemic |
Provincial distribution | Western Cape |
Range | This species is endemic to a small area along the Western Cape coast. There are two disjunct subpopulations, one on the Cape Peninsula, the second occurring between the Steenbras River mouth and Hermanus. |
Habitat and Ecology |
Major system | Terrestrial |
Major habitats | Overberg Dune Strandveld, Overberg Sandstone Fynbos, Hangklip Sand Fynbos, Kogelberg Sandstone Fynbos, Cape Flats Dune Strandveld, Peninsula Sandstone Fynbos, Peninsula Granite Fynbos |
Description | It occurs on steep lower mountain slopes and cliffs, and is often found in ravines near the sea. |
Threats |
| Subpopulations on lower slopes, e.g. at the suspected type locality on Kloof Nek, may have declined due to the urban expansion of Cape Town in the past (Reynolds 1969). Most subpopulations are, however, still likely to be intact as they occur higher up on the slopes of Table Mountain where they are protected in the Table Mountain National Park. Much of Table Mountain was severely encroached by alien invasive plants, but these have been cleared and are now managed and no longer a serious threat.
Some populations do occur very close to the coast between Gordons Bay and Hermanus where they could potentially be threatened by coastal development, but near the coast A. succotrina tends to be confined to steep rocky ravines near river mouths, sites that are generally not impacted by development. Many subpopulations in this area are also protected in reserves such as the Kogelberg Biosphere Reserve and the Fernkloof Nature Reserve near Hermanus. |
Population |
This species is common on the Cape Peninsula. Although sporadic, localized declines occur, no severe ongoing population decline is suspected.
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Population trend | Stable |
Assessment History |
Taxon assessed |
Status and Criteria |
Citation/Red List version | | Aloe succotrina Lam. | Least Concern | Raimondo et al. (2009) | |
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.
Goldblatt, P. and Manning, J.C. 2000. Cape Plants: A conspectus of the Cape Flora of South Africa. Strelitzia 9. National Botanical Institute, Cape Town.
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.
Reynolds, G.W. 1969. The Aloes of South Africa. A.A. Balkema, Cape Town.
Van Wyk, B.-E. and Smith, G. 2003. Guide to aloes of South Africa. (2nd ed.). Briza Publications, Pretoria.
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 succotrina Lam. National Assessment: Red List of South African Plants version 2020.1. Accessed on 2023/12/01 |
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