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Scientific Name | Aloe melanacantha A.Berger |
Higher Classification | Monocotyledons |
Family | ASPHODELACEAE |
Common Names | Goree (a), Kleinbergaalwee (a), Kleinbergaalwyn (a) |
National Status |
Status and Criteria | Least Concern |
Assessment Date | 2018/10/29 |
Assessor(s) | H. Mtshali |
Justification | Aloe melanacantha is a widespread species that is not in danger of extinction. |
Distribution |
Endemism | Not endemic to South Africa |
Provincial distribution | Northern Cape, Western Cape |
Range | This species occurs from southern Namibia southwards through Namaqualand to Bitterfontein on the northern edge of the Knersvlakte and the Bokkeveld Escarpment north of Nieuwoudtville. |
Habitat and Ecology |
Major system | Terrestrial |
Major habitats | Namaqualand Inland Duneveld, Namaqualand Heuweltjie Strandveld, Namaqualand Arid Grassland, Anenous Plateau Shrubland, Central Richtersveld Mountain Shrubland, Kamiesberg Mountains Shrubland, Namaqualand Blomveld, Namaqualand Shale Shrubland, Namaqualand Klipkoppe Shrubland, Namaqualand Sand Fynbos |
Description | It occurs in sandy or rocky places in arid shrublands. |
Threats |
| Parts of A. melanacantha's habitat in the Richtersveld and Namaqualand is degraded due to severe overgrazing by livestock. This very spiny species is not browsed and does not appear to be impacted by grazing. According to Van Wyk and Smith (2014), A. melanacantha is not threatened. |
Population |
Aloe melanacantha is known from only a few records, scattered over a wide range. It is suspected to be under-sampled, rather than rare or threatened. There are at least 20 known subpopulations, and the population is not suspected to be declining.
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Population trend | Stable |
Assessment History |
Taxon assessed |
Status and Criteria |
Citation/Red List version | | Aloe melanacantha A.Berger | 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.
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.
Snijman, D.A. 2013. Plants of the Greater Cape Floristic Region 2: The extra Cape flora. Strelitzia 30. South African National Biodiversity Institute, Pretoria.
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.F. 2014. Guide to the Aloes of South Africa. (Third ed.). Briza Publications, Pretoria.
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Citation |
| Mtshali, H. 2018. Aloe melanacantha A.Berger. National Assessment: Red List of South African Plants version . Accessed on 2025/07/01 |
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