Karoo Aalwyn

Taxonomy
Scientific Name
Aloe microstigma Salm-Dyck
Higher Classification
Monocotyledons
Family
ASPHODELACEAE
Synonyms
Aloe brunnthaleri A.Berger ex Cammerloher, Aloe juttae Dinter
Common Names
Aloeboom (a), Kamiesberg Aloe (e), Karoo Aalwyn (a), Tweederly (a), Wilde-aalwyn (a)
National Status
Status and Criteria
Least Concern
Assessment Date
2018/10/02
Assessor(s)
H. Mtshali, J.E. Victor & G.F. Smith
Justification
Aloe microstigma is widespread, common and not in danger of extinction.
Distribution
Endemism
South African endemic
Provincial distribution
Eastern Cape, Northern Cape, Western Cape
Range
This species is widespread across the arid areas of the Western and Eastern Cape provinces of South Africa, extending to the southern Northern Cape. It occurs in the Tanqua Karoo, Little Karoo and eastwards across areas of arid thicket vegetation of the western Eastern Cape interior as far as Graaff-Reinet and Grahamstown.
Habitat and Ecology
Major system
Terrestrial
Major habitats
Albany Thicket, Succulent Karoo
Description
It occurs in a variety of habitats, including flat open areas and steep rocky slopes in succulent karoo and arid thicket vegetation.
Threats
There are no known severe threats to this species (Van Wyk and Smith 2014).
Population

A. microstigma is exceptionally common (Van Wyk and Smith 2014), and subpopulations are large, consisting of thousands of individuals often dominating the landscape. As there are no severe threats to this species, the population is not suspected to be declining.


Population trend
Stable
Assessment History
Taxon assessed
Status and Criteria
Citation/Red List version
Aloe microstigma Salm-DyckLeast Concern 2015.1
Aloe microstigma Salm-Dyck subsp. microstigma 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.


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.


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.


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. 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.


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. 2018. Aloe microstigma Salm-Dyck. National Assessment: Red List of South African Plants version . Accessed on 2025/05/19

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Distribution map

© D. van der Colff


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