Tarwood

Taxonomy
Scientific Name
Loxostylis alata A.Spreng. ex Rchb.
Higher Classification
Dicotyledons
Family
ANACARDIACEAE
Common Names
Breekhout (a), Isibara (z), Isibara (x), Tarwood (e), Tederhout (a), Teerhout (a), Tierhout (a), Tigerwood (e), Wild Peper Tree (e), Wild Pepper Tree (e), Wildepeperboom (a), Wilde-peperboom (a)
National Status
Status and Criteria
Least Concern
Assessment Date
2016/06/28
Assessor(s)
A.T.D. Abbott, V.L. Williams & D. Raimondo
Justification
This species is widespread (EOO 106 300 km²). Its bark is traded for medicinal use. There has been no observed decline in the Western Cape or Eastern Cape but it is being impacted in Pondoland and areas of KwaZulu-Natal. In certain areas of Pondoland a decline of 5-10% of mature individuals per year has been estimated. It regenerates well from seed and the decline is not sufficient to merit listing as Near Threatened or Threatened.
Distribution
Endemism
South African endemic
Provincial distribution
Eastern Cape, KwaZulu-Natal, Western Cape
Range
Baviaanskloof to southern KwaZulu-Natal.
Habitat and Ecology
Major system
Terrestrial
Major habitats
Forest
Description
Forest margins and sandstone outcrops.
Threats
Cunningham (1988) lists the species as being 'vulnerable and declining' in KwaZulu-Natal due to bark harvesting for the medicinal plant trade. The species is rare in KwaZulu-Natal, and bark harvesting could be threatening the subpopulations in the province. The species has not been recorded in recent surveys (e.g. von Ahlefeldt et al. 2003). According to Tony Dold, it is common in the Port Elizabeth/Uitenhage area and occasional around Grahamstown, but is not used medicinally or for anything else (pers. comm., 2008) A.T.D Abbott pers comm 2008 reports that Loxostylis is under pressure and that during a survey conducted 10 years ago along the Mzamba River virtually every plant was barked to some extent with a number totally ring-barked and dead. Even in the Umtamvuna Nature Reserve a couple of barked trees were observed in 2008. He predicts that there is sufficient pressure on the species to cause a definite decline in numbers; I would hesitate to put a percentage on it though but a figure of a 5 to 10% loss of mature plants a year might be right but there is good regeneration so the species will not be eradicated for some time as the small plants are not used. Complete deforestation of some forest patches in Pondoland that is the habtiat of this species has also been observed by A.T.D Abbott.
Population
Population trend
Decreasing
Assessment History
Taxon assessed
Status and Criteria
Citation/Red List version
Loxostylis alata A.Spreng. ex Rchb.Declining Raimondo et al. (2009)
Bibliography

Boon, R. 2010. Pooley's Trees of eastern South Africa. Flora and Fauna Publications Trust, Durban.


Cunningham, A.B. 1988. An investigation of the herbal medicine trade in Natal/KwaZulu. Investigational Report No. 29. Institute of Natural Resources, Pietermaritzburg.


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.


Manning, J.C. and Goldblatt, P. 2012. Plants of the Greater Cape Floristic Region 1: The Core Cape Flora. Strelitzia 29. South African National Biodiversity Institute, Pretoria.


Pooley, E. 1998. The complete field guide to trees of Natal, Zululand and Transkei. Natal Flora Publications Trust, Durban.


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.


Von Ahlefeldt, D., Crouch, N.R., Nichols, G., Symmonds, R., McKean, S., Sibiya, H. and Cele, M.P. 2003. Medicinal plants traded on South Africa's eastern seabord. Porcupine Press, Durban.


Citation
Abbott, A.T.D., Williams, V.L. & Raimondo, D. 2016. Loxostylis alata A.Spreng. ex Rchb. National Assessment: Red List of South African Plants version . Accessed on 2025/05/16

Comment on this assessment Comment on this assessment
Distribution map


Search for images of Loxostylis alata on iNaturalist