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Scientific Name | Aloe verecunda Pole-Evans |
Higher Classification | Monocotyledons |
Family | ASPHODELACEAE |
National Status |
Status and Criteria | Least Concern |
Assessment Date | 2020/01/28 |
Assessor(s) | H. Mtshali & L. von Staden |
Justification | Aloe verecunda is widespread, common and not in danger of extinction. |
Distribution |
Endemism | South African endemic |
Provincial distribution | Gauteng, Limpopo, Mpumalanga, North West |
Range | This species has a disjunct distribution across northern South Africa. It occurs mainly in Gauteng and adjacent areas in North West Province and Mpumalanga. It also occurs in the Wolkberg Mountains in Limpopo Province, as well as the area around Piet Retief in southern Mpumalanga. |
Habitat and Ecology |
Major system | Terrestrial |
Major habitats | Grassland, Savanna |
Description | It occurs in shallow soils among rocks on ridges in grassland and mountain bushveld. |
Threats |
| Historically, this species lost habitat to urban expansion around Gauteng. However, the importance of rocky ridges as refugia for many rare and endangered plant and animal species have been recognized, and development on the ridges are now regulated so as to prevent further declines in threatened species (Craib 2005, M. Pfab pers. comm.) A. verecunda can still be found on many undisturbed rocky ridges within Gauteng as well as in mining areas to the west of Johannesburg such as around Carletonville. In these areas, large stretches of rocky ridges owned by gold mining companies remains preserved in pristine condition due to the exclusion of livestock grazing and development (Craib 2005). Elsewhere in the range there is very little threats to subpopulations, as the rocky habitat it prefers tend to not be suitable for timber plantations or agriculture (Craib 2005).
According to Craib (2005) and Van Wyk and Smith (1996) this species is not in danger of extinction. |
Population |
Craib (2005) estimates that A. verecunda subpopulations within Gauteng have declined by 60% due to habitat loss to urban expansion. Population decline within Gauteng province is likely to have occurred over a period longer than three generations (generation length estimated 10 years), and is unlikely to represent more than 30% of the population. Recent field observations (2007-2020) indicate that this species is still common in Gauteng, in spite of extensive historical habitat loss. No significant ongoing population decline is suspected.
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Population trend | Stable |
Assessment History |
Taxon assessed |
Status and Criteria |
Citation/Red List version | | Aloe verecunda Pole-Evans | Least Concern | Raimondo et al. (2009) | |
Bibliography |
Craib, C. 2005. Grass Aloes in the South African Veld. Umdaus Press, Hatfield.
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.
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.F. 2014. Guide to the Aloes of South Africa. (Third ed.). Briza Publications, Pretoria.
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Citation |
| Mtshali, H. & von Staden, L. 2020. Aloe verecunda Pole-Evans. National Assessment: Red List of South African Plants version . Accessed on 2025/05/19 |
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