Taxonomy
Scientific Name
Aloe inconspicua Plowes
Higher Classification
Monocotyledons
Family
ASPHODELACEAE
National Status
Status and Criteria
Endangered B1ab(iii)+2ab(iii)
Assessment Date
2018/10/17
Assessor(s)
L. von Staden & H. Mtshali
Justification
Aloe inconspicua is a rare, range-restricted species (extent of occurrence 7-12 km²), known from two to three locations and declining due to ongoing habitat loss and degradation.
Distribution
Endemism
South African endemic
Provincial distribution
KwaZulu-Natal
Range
This species is endemic to KwaZulu-Natal Province, South Africa, where it is localized to the Bushman's River Valley near Estcourt.
Habitat and Ecology
Major system
Terrestrial
Major habitats
Thukela Thornveld
Description
It occurs in transition between grassland and valley bushveld, mostly in short grassland, generally on gently sloping ground beside large hills and in hilly thornveld.
Threats
The most serious threat to A. inconspicua is habitat degradation as a result of heavy overgrazing. The soils in the Bushmans River valley is particularly sensitive to erosion, and overgrazing is likely to cause extensive damage (Craib 2005, T. Makholela pers. obs.). On the outskirts of Estcourt, increasing grazing pressure on communal rangelands were noted in the early 2000s (Craib 2005). Plants were also recorded on a privately owned farm nearby, where light grazing was maintained (Craib 2005). This farm was however handed over to a local community in a land claim, which is likely to result in changes in land management and grazing pressure. This subpopulation was last surveyed in 2009, and the current condition of the habitat is not known. The subpopulation on the outskirts of Estcourt was partially destroyed after an informal settlement was established in this species' habitat (Craib 2005). Comparable land cover datasets however show that there has been no significant expansion of this settlement since 1990.
Population

Aloe inconspicua is a highly range-restricted species. It was last recorded in 2009, when three subpopulations at two locations were recorded. In 2005, it was reported to be fairly common on the eastern outskirts of Estcourt, and rarer on a nearby privately owned farm. The current status of the population is not known, but it is suspected to be declining due to ongoing habitat loss and degradation. Field surveys are needed to determine the impact of grazing and land use changes on the population.


Population trend
Decreasing
Assessment History
Taxon assessed
Status and Criteria
Citation/Red List version
Aloe inconspicua PlowesEN B1ab(iii)+2ab(iii)Raimondo et al. (2009)
Aloe inconspicua PlowesVU D2Victor (2002)
Aloe inconspicua PlowesLower Risk - Near Threatened Scott-Shaw (1999)
Aloe inconspicua PlowesRare Hilton-Taylor (1996)
Bibliography

Craib, C. 2005. Grass Aloes in the South African Veld. Umdaus Press, Hatfield.


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


Plowes, D.C.H. 1986. Aloe inconspicua, a new species from Natal. Aloe 23(2):32-33.


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.


Scott-Shaw, C.R. 1999. Rare and threatened plants of KwaZulu-Natal and neighbouring regions. KwaZulu-Natal Nature Conservation Service, Pietermaritzburg.


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
von Staden, L. & Mtshali, H. 2018. Aloe inconspicua Plowes. National Assessment: Red List of South African Plants version . Accessed on 2025/05/09

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Distribution map

© E. van Wyk


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