Clanwilliam Aloe

Taxonomy
Scientific Name
Aloe comosa Marloth & A.Berger
Higher Classification
Monocotyledons
Family
ASPHODELACEAE
Common Names
Clanwilliam Aloe (e), Clanwilliam-aalwyn (a)
National Status
Status and Criteria
Least Concern
Assessment Date
2019/03/12
Assessor(s)
H. Mtshali, J.E. Victor & G.F. Smith
Justification
Aloe comosa has a restricted distribution range (extent of occurrence 5051 km²), and is potentially vulnerable to illegal wild succulent collecting. As it was found to be more common than previously thought, collecting is however unlikely to rapidly cause this species to become Endangered or Critically Endangered, and therefore it does not presently qualify for Vulnerable under Criterion D2. The population requires monitoring.
Distribution
Endemism
South African endemic
Provincial distribution
Northern Cape, Western Cape
Range
This species is endemic to the Northern Cape and Western Cape provinces of South Africa where it occurs from the Vanrhynsdorp district, Onder Bokkeveld and Olifants River Valley north of Clanwilliam southwards along the dry eastern edge of the Cederberg to the Swartruggens Mountains and Tanqua Karoo.
Habitat and Ecology
Major system
Terrestrial
Major habitats
Agter-Sederberg Shrubland, Doringrivier Quartzite Karoo, Citrusdal Vygieveld, Swartruggens Quartzite Karoo, Kobee Succulent Shrubland, Vanrhynsdorp Shale Renosterveld, Swartruggens Quartzite Fynbos
Description
It occurs on steep, rocky hillsides, on soils derived mostly from Bokkeveld shale, 300-650 m.
Threats
Aloe comosa was considered Vulnerable in the past (Van Wyk and Smith 1996, 2003), as its population was thought to be small and therefore vulnerable to illegal succulent collecting. Further field surveys found it to be more common, and the Aloe collecting frenzy of the 1960s and 1970s has largely ceased. It does however remain potentially vulnerable to succulent collecting as it is a long-lived, slow growing species, and there is ongoing demand for South African succulents world wide (L. Jabar pers. comm. 2019).
Population

Recent field records indicate that Aloe comosa is more common than previously thought (Hilton-Taylor 1996, Victor 2002, Van Wyk and Smith 1996, 2003). The current population trend is not known, and monitoring is needed to determine whether collecting is still a threat.


Population trend
Unknown
Assessment History
Taxon assessed
Status and Criteria
Citation/Red List version
Aloe comosa Marloth & A.BergerLeast Concern Raimondo et al. (2009)
Aloe comosa Marloth & A.BergerVU B1B2cVictor (2002)
Aloe comosa Marloth & A.BergerRare Hilton-Taylor (1996)
Bibliography

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.


Hilton-Taylor, C. 1996. Red data list of southern African plants. Strelitzia 4. South African National Botanical Institute, Pretoria.


Klopper, R.R. and Smith, G.F. 2007. The genus Aloe (Asphodelaceae: Alooideae) in Namaqualand, South Africa. Haseltonia 13:38-51.


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.


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. 1996. Guide to the aloes of South Africa. Briza Publications, Pretoria.


Van Wyk, B.-E. and Smith, G. 2003. Guide to aloes of South Africa. (2nd 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., Victor, J.E. & Smith, G.F. 2019. Aloe comosa Marloth & A.Berger. National Assessment: Red List of South African Plants version . Accessed on 2025/05/14

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Distribution map

© C. Paterson-Jones


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