Corresponding author: Ronell R. Klopper (
Academic editor: L. Peruzzi
The KwaZulu-Natal province of South Africa has a varied topography, geology and climate and presents diverse habitats that support a rich and diverse flora. Aloes are well represented in KwaZulu-Natal, with four genera [
Klopper RR, Crouch NR, Smith GF, Van Wyk AE (2020) A synoptic review of the aloes (Asphodelaceae, Alooideae) of KwaZulu-Natal, an ecologically diverse province in eastern South Africa. PhytoKeys 142: 1–88.
The KwaZulu-Natal province covers an area of ± 92 290 km2 in the southeast of South Africa (
The main agricultural industry in KwaZulu-Natal is sugar production and vast areas of the province are covered with sugar cane plantations. Other agricultural activities include farming with sheep, cattle (dairy and beef), plantation forestry, citrus fruit, maize, sorghum, cotton, bananas, macadamia nuts and pineapples. Industrial areas with textile, chemical, vehicle and food-processing plants and oil refineries are mainly located near the main ports of Durban (east-central KwaZulu-Natal) and Richards Bay (north coast). Coastal dune mining for heavy metals and minerals is having a negative impact on the coastal dune vegetation and marine ecology along parts of the north coast of KwaZulu-Natal. The province is also a popular tourism destination, especially the coastal region and the high mountains of the Great Escarpment (Drakensberg) on the border with Lesotho (
Many areas in KwaZulu-Natal are densely populated or otherwise anthropogenically impacted, leading to the destruction or degradation of much natural vegetation. By 2005, 43% of the natural habitat in the province was already transformed, with the rate of such change much higher than the national average (
The climate of KwaZulu-Natal ranges from temperate in the higher inland areas to subtropical or tropical along the coast. Maputaland, in the north-eastern corner of KwaZulu-Natal, is at the southern end of the tropics in Africa and many tropical plants and animals reach the southermost limit of their range here (
Elevation ranges from sea level at the coast to an average crest height on the Drakensberg Escarpment, on the border between Lesotho and KwaZulu-Natal, of around 3 377 m above sea level (a.s.l.) (
The great variation found in climate, topography and geology throughout KwaZulu-Natal leads to high environmental heterogeneity. In addition, the proximity of the warm Agulhas Current may well have provided some climatic stability by acting as a buffer against periods of cooler climates in the past. This in turn has led to, inter alia, an exceptionally diverse vegetation and flora in the province (
One of the 34 global biodiversity hotspots recognised by Conservation International (
The Drakensberg Alpine Centre of Endemism covers the central high-lying portion of the Drakensberg Mountains in Lesotho and western KwaZulu-Natal (see Fig.
Vegetation of the KwaZulu-Natal province of South Africa (based on
South Africa harbours 27% (± 170 species and infraspecific taxa) of the world’s ± 630 species of aloe. This is more than for any other country. KwaZulu-Natal alone has 49 aloes (29% of the aloes in South Africa). Of these, 14 (28.5%) are endemic to the province and a further 11 (22%) near-endemic. Near-endemic status is here applied to restricted range aloes where more than 75% of the distribution range falls within KwaZulu-Natal. Accordingly, a majority (51%) of the aloes of KwaZulu-Natal are wholly or mostly restricted to the province. At least 31 aloes in KwaZulu-Natal (63%) are endemic or near-endemic to the Maputaland-Pondoland Region (see Table
Checklist of endemic and near-endemic aloe taxa of KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa and the Maputaland-Pondoland Region. Restricted range aloes, where more than 75% of the distribution range falls within KwaZulu-Natal, are here regarded as near-endemic to the province. Also indicated are taxa that only have a minor part of their range in this province, but have their main distribution range outside of KwaZulu-Natal, as well as taxa that reach the limits of their distribution in this province. [N – reaches northern extreme of range;
Taxon | Endemic | Near-endemic | Minor range | Limit |
|
---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
X | N | |||
|
X | ||||
|
X | S | X | ||
|
X |
|
|||
|
|||||
|
X |
|
|||
|
|||||
|
X | X | |||
|
X | S | |||
|
X | ||||
|
X | X | |||
|
X | X | |||
|
X | ||||
|
X | X | |||
|
X | X | |||
|
X | X | |||
|
X | S | |||
|
X | X | |||
|
X | X | |||
|
|||||
|
S | ||||
|
S | X | |||
|
X | N | |||
|
X | ||||
|
S | ||||
|
X | X | |||
|
|||||
|
X | X | |||
|
X | X | |||
|
S | ||||
|
X | X | |||
|
X | N | |||
|
X | N | |||
|
X | X | |||
|
X | X | |||
|
X | X | |||
|
X | X | |||
|
X | X | |||
|
X | X | |||
|
X | X | |||
|
X | S | |||
|
S | X | |||
|
X | X | |||
|
X | X | |||
|
X | X | |||
|
X | X | |||
|
X | X | |||
|
X | X | |||
|
X | S | |||
|
|
|
|
|
|
A total of 12 (24.5%) aloes have the largest part of their distribution ranges outside of KwaZulu-Natal and only marginally enter this province. The distribution range of eight (16%) aloes extend to the north and south of KwaZulu-Natal, while 16 of the non-endemic aloes (33%) reach either the southern or northern limit of their distribution ranges within the province (see Table
Aloes in KwaZulu-Natal are represented by four genera (generic classification following
KwaZulu-Natal is especially rich in so-called grass aloes with no less than 18 species (37% of the aloes treated here) (
Another group that is very well represented in this province is the maculate aloes, with ten (20% of the aloes in KwaZulu-Natal) representatives, of which four (40% of maculate aloes in KwaZulu-Natal) are endemic and three (30%) near-endemic (see Table
This synoptic review provides a complete floristic treatment of the aloes of KwaZulu-Natal. It also contains an identification key to the aloes of this province, along with species-level distribution maps and accompanying images, giving for the first time, an atlas of aloe occurrence in this part of the subcontinent. To prevent confusion between
Red-List categories for the aloe taxa in KwaZulu-Natal. [Least Concern (
Taxon |
|
|
|
|
|
---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
X | ||||
|
X | ||||
|
X | ||||
|
X | ||||
|
X | ||||
|
X | ||||
|
X | ||||
|
X | ||||
|
X | ||||
|
X | ||||
|
X | ||||
|
X | ||||
|
X | ||||
|
X | ||||
|
X | ||||
|
X | ||||
|
X | ||||
|
X | ||||
|
X | ||||
|
X | ||||
|
X | ||||
|
X | ||||
|
X | ||||
|
X | ||||
|
X | ||||
|
X | ||||
|
X | ||||
|
X | ||||
|
X | ||||
|
X | ||||
|
X | ||||
|
X | ||||
|
X | ||||
|
X | ||||
|
X | ||||
|
X | ||||
|
X | ||||
|
X | ||||
|
X | ||||
|
X | ||||
|
X | ||||
|
X | ||||
|
X | ||||
|
X | ||||
|
X | ||||
|
X | ||||
|
X | ||||
|
X | ||||
|
X | ||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
Aloes are protected under both provincial legislation and international convention. All KwaZulu-Natal aloes are listed as specially protected under KwaZulu-Natal nature conservation legislation (
Conservation status and threats to the survival of each species are given here according to
1 | Tangled shrubs with very slender stems; leaves cauline dispersed |
|
– | Plants do not form tangled shrubs, stems more robust when present; leaves rosulate to distichous |
|
2 | Arborescent plants with stems longer than 1 m, usually longer than 2 m |
|
– | Acaulescent plants or plants with stems shorter than 1 m |
|
3 | Stems dichotomously branched, without persistent dried leaves |
|
– | Stems simple or branched, with persistent dried leaves |
|
4 | Tree aloe of up to 18 m high; leaves 60–90 cm long; inflorescence 0.4–0.6 m high, 3-branched from a single point; raceme cylindrical, 20–30 cm long; flowers rose to rose-pink, 33–37 mm long; sparsely scattered in a broad coastal zone throughout KwaZulu-Natal, but absent from most of the Maputaland Centre |
|
– | Tree aloe of up to 8 m high; leaves 40–59 cm long; inflorescence ± 0.35 m high, up to 6-branched; raceme capitate, 4–6 cm long; flowers yellowish-orange, 47–50 mm long; confined to the Maputaland Center of Endemism |
|
5 | Inflorescence simple or occasionally up to 2-branched |
|
– | Inflorescence always branched |
|
6 | Much-branched shrub; pedicels 35–40 mm long; flowers scarlet to yellow, ± 40 mm long, cylindrical |
|
– | Stem simple or sometimes few-branched; pedicels absent; flowers pinkish-brown to greenish-yellow, up to 20 mm long, campanulate |
|
7 | Stem erect to decumbent; leaves spreading to recurved; inflorescence erect; raceme 4–5 cm wide; ovary uniformly green |
|
– | Stem procumbent to shortly suberect, sometimes absent; leaves arcuate-erect to slightly spreading; inflorescence oblique to erect; raceme 5–7 mm wide; ovary green with red line longitudinally down the three broad angles |
|
8 | Racemes horizontal or spreading to suboblique; flowers secund |
|
– | Racemes erect; flowers not secund |
|
9 | Leaves obscurely lineate; floral bracts ± 20 mm long; pedicels 30–35 mm long; flowers 40–45 mm long |
|
– | Leaves without spots or lines; floral bracts shorter than 10 mm; pedicels shorter than 6 mm; flowers shorter than 35 mm |
|
10 | Racemes 50–80 cm long; pedicels ± 6 mm long |
|
– | Racemes up to 25 cm long; pedicels up to 3 mm long |
|
11 | Leaves 30–70 cm long, without surface prickles or spines; racemes ± 7 cm wide; floral bracts ± 1 mm long; flowers 15–50 mm long |
|
– | Leaves ± 100 cm or longer, with spines in median line on lower surface or with copious surface spines; racemes wider than 9 mm; floral bracts longer than 4 mm; flowers ± 25 mm and longer |
|
12 | Leaves suberect to spreading, ± 100 × 12–15 cm, usually with copious spines on both surfaces; floral bracts 4–5 mm long; flowers ± 32 mm long |
|
– | Leaves gracefully recurved, ± 160 × 22 cm, lower surface sometimes with few spines in median line; floral bracts ± 9 mm long; flowers ± 25 mm long |
|
13 | Leaves thick and succulent, usually with fierce marginal teeth |
|
– | Leaves thin and not very succulent, usually with small marginal teeth; grass aloes |
|
14 | Leaves with tuberculate spots or spines on lower surface, up to 17 cm long |
|
– | Leaves without surface spines, if spines are present on median line of lower surface, then leaves longer than 40 cm |
|
15 | Leaves with several scattered small, white, subtuberculate to spinulescent spots on both surfaces, 8–10 × 1–2 cm, marginal teeth 1–2 mm long; peduncle mostly without sterile bracts |
|
– | Leaves with few scattered brown spines on lower surface, especially along median line, 10–17 × 4–6 cm, marginal teeth ± 5 mm long; peduncle covered with large imbricate sterile bracts |
|
16 | Leaves with numerous spots on one or both surfaces, often in confluent transverse bands; flowers usually with globose basal swelling |
|
– | Leaves without spots, sometimes with a few scattered spots only; flowers without globose basal swelling |
|
17 | Inflorescence with very slender peduncle, twining or climbing, requiring support from surrounding vegetation |
|
– | Inflorescence with robust peduncle, not climbing, stands erect without support from surrounding vegetation |
|
18 | Racemes capitate, rather dense |
|
– | Racemes cylindrical, rather lax |
|
19 | Flowers pale whitish-green, tinged with pink, 13–17 mm long, globose basal swelling not very prominent |
|
– | Flowers salmon pink to orange or red, longer than 30 mm, with prominent globose basal swelling |
|
20 | Inflorescence 0.4–1.0 m high; racemes 10–12 cm long; floral bracts 12–23 mm long; pedicels 35–45 mm long |
|
– | Inflorescence 1.0–1.5 m high; racemes 7–9 cm long; floral bracts 8–12 mm long; pedicels 10–15 mm long |
|
21 | Rosettes suckering profusely to form large dense groups |
|
– | Rosettes usually solitary or sometimes suckering to form small groups |
|
22 | Leaves with markings more pronounced on lower surface; flowers light to dark flesh pink, with bloom, 28–30 mm long |
|
– | Leaves usually without markings on lower surface; flowers dull to somewhat glossy red, without bloom, 30–40 mm long |
|
23 | Inflorescence 1- or 2-branched; floral bracts 8–10 mm long; peduncle cannot support weight of very large mature capsules and bends towards ground |
|
– | Inflorescence with more than four branches; floral bracts longer than 10 mm; peduncle remains erect in fruiting stage |
|
24 | Inflorescence 4- to 8-branched; pedicels 20–25 mm long; flowers bright, without a powdery bloom, 25–35 mm long |
|
– | Inflorescence up to 12-branched; pedicels up to 20 mm long; flowers dull, with powdery bloom, up to ± 40 mm long |
|
25 | Rosettes always acaulescent, erect; leaves glossy, without spots on the lower surface, marginal teeth up to 10 mm long; inflorescence 2–3 m high; perianth 14 mm across ovary |
|
– | Rosettes usually with very short procumbent stem; leaves with heavy powdery bloom, with spots more numerous on lower surface, marginal teeth 3–4 mm long; inflorescence 1.4–2.0 m high; perianth 8 mm across ovary |
|
26 | Leaves not obscurely lineate; raceme 30–40 cm long; pedicels up to 5 mm long; flowers pointing downwards and pressed against stalk |
|
– | Leaves obscurely lineate; raceme shorter than 30 cm; pedicels 14–25 mm long; flowers spreading to pendent, but not pressed against stalk |
|
27 | Leaves with marginal teeth 10–15 mm apart; inflorescence 1.0–1.3 m high, simple in young plants, 1- to 3-branched in mature plants; floral bracts ± 18 mm long; flowers yellowish-orange, 24–30 mm long |
|
– | Leaves with marginal teeth ± 5 mm apart; inflorescence 0.70–0.75 m high, 2- to 4-branched; floral bracts ± 6 mm long; flowers bright red above, lemon yellow below, 32–40 mm long |
|
28 | Rosettes usually solitary; inflorescence simple |
|
– | Rosettes suckering to form dense groups; inflorescence branched |
|
29 | Inflorescence 6- to 12-branched; racemes rather lax; floral bracts 3–6 mm long; flowers usually pale red, with stamens and style exserted to 2 mm |
|
– | Inflorescence 2- or 3-branched; racemes rather dense; floral bracts up to 15 mm long; flowers usually orange-yellow, with stamens and style exserted to 12 mm |
|
30 | Plants with an underground bulb-like swelling of the leaf bases |
|
– | Plants without an underground bulb-like swelling of the leaf bases |
|
31 | Racemes subcapitate; flowers scented |
|
– | Racemes cylindrical; flowers unscented |
|
32 | Inflorescence ± 0.15 m high; raceme very dense; pedicels absent |
|
– | Inflorescence longer than 0.2 m high; raceme lax; pedicels present (short or long) |
|
33 | Flowers sub-erect to horizontal, pale pink to coral pink with darker median stripes on perianth segments, with bilabiate mouth |
|
– | Flowers pendent, pale pink to scarlet, green-tipped, with mouth not bilabiate |
|
34 | Leaves strongly keeled, V-shaped in cross section |
|
– | Leaves not strongly keeled and V-shaped in cross section |
|
35 | Inflorescence up to 0.3 m high; flowers 15–20 mm long, with bilabiate upturned mouth |
|
– | Inflorescence longer than 0.3 m; flowers longer than 25 mm, with mouth not bilabiate or upturned |
|
36 | Leaves with the margin toothed throughout; inflorescence sometimes shorter than the leaves; floral bracts flat, not clasping the pedicels |
|
– | Leaves with no marginal teeth in the upper 2/3; inflorescence longer than the leaves; floral bracts clasping the pedicels |
|
37 | Leaves up to 3.5 cm wide |
|
– | Leaves usually wider than 3.5 cm |
|
38 | Leaves wider than 2 cm |
|
– | Leaves up to 1 cm wide |
|
39 | Rosettes usually solitary; flowers 25–40 mm long, mouth not upturned |
|
– | Rosettes usually in dense groups; flowers 13–16 mm long, mouth distinctly upturned |
|
40 | Flowers yellow to greenish-yellow |
|
– | Flowers dull or greenish-white to pink or purple |
|
41 | Rosettes in dense groups; leaves rosulate; raceme ± 4 cm long; flowers 13–18 mm long, with stamens and style exserted 4–7 mm |
|
– | Rosettes usually solitary, sometimes in small groups; leaves usually distichous; raceme ± 2 cm long; flowers ± 12 mm long, with stamens and style exserted to 2 mm |
|
42 | Leaves up to 10 cm long; inflorescence shorter than 0.2 m |
|
– | Leaves longer than 20 cm; inflorescence taller than 0.25 m |
|
43 | Leaves rosulate, 25–35 × 0.4–0.6 cm; inflorescence 0.25–0.50 m high; peduncle smooth; flowers 10–11 mm long |
|
– | Leaves distichous or rosulate, 20–25 × 0.6–0.8 cm; inflorescence ± 0.4 m high; peduncle with numerous small spines on lower part; flowers ± 8 mm long |
|
44 | Leaves usually distichous or sub-distichous, up to 6 cm wide |
|
– | Leaves rosulate, usually wider than 6 cm |
|
45 | Flowers usually apricot-yellow, 28–30 mm long |
|
– | Flowers yellow, 16–18 mm long |
|
46 | Stem up to 0.95 m long, decumbent to erect, branched; inflorescence 0.6–0.8 m high; floral bracts ± 30 mm long; flowers ± 45 mm long |
|
– | Stem absent or very short, erect, usually simple; inflorescence up to 0.6 m high; floral bracts shorter than 25 mm; flowers up to 40 mm long |
|
47 | Leaves erect, 50–60 cm long; floral bracts 20–23 mm long; pedicels 40–45 mm long; flowers 30–40 mm long |
|
– | Leaves erectly spreading, 30–40 cm long; floral bracts 10–15 mm long; pedicels 30–40 mm long; flowers 20–24 mm long |
|
Species are arranged alphabetically according to species name, with the minor genera treated before the true aloes. Only common names that are relevant to KwaZulu-Natal are given. Further common names can be found in
E indicates taxa that are endemic to KwaZulu-Natal.
Fence aloe, gardener’s aloe (English); heiningaalwyn, heuningaalwyn (Afrikaans).
Tangled shrub of 0.6 m or higher.
(August) October–December (May).
Often in open habitats on sandy soils, more rarely in thicket vegetation, sometimes on steep slopes. In contrast, other species of
Least Concern (
Occurs from the Port Elizabeth and Jansenville areas in the Eastern Cape into southern KwaZulu-Natal, the Richmond area and then with a disjunct distribution in northern KwaZulu-Natal on the border with Mpumalanga (South Africa) and Eswatini (Fig.
Tree aloe (English); boomaalwyn, mikaalwyn (Afrikaans); impondondo, indlabendlazi, inkalane unkulu, umgxwala (Zulu).
Arborescent plant, up to 18 m high.
May–August.
Dense, tall bush and low forest, rocky slopes of wooded valleys.
Least Concern (
Occurs in scattered localities, often in inaccessible sites (with steep gradients), in a broad coastal zone from East London in the Eastern Cape, through KwaZulu-Natal and Mpumalanga, South Africa, also in Eswatini (Fig.
Tree, 4–8 m high, with rounded crown.
Mainly April–May.
Sand forest and coastal dune forest, in warm, humid, tropical/subtropical conditions, on sandy soil.
Least Concern (
Occurs in the sand forest and coastal dune forest at Kosi Bay in northern KwaZulu-Natal (Maputaland), South Africa and along the southern Mozambique coast as far north as Inhambane, with a known disjunct collection further north in the Cheringoma District of east-central Mozambique (Fig.
This aloe was previously considered to be a coastal form of
Guinea-fowl aloe (English); tarentaalaalwyn (Afrikaans); umathithibala (Zulu).
Acaulescent plants; rosettes solitary or usually suckering to form dense clumps.
August–October (November).
Wide variety of habitats, including sandy to clayey soils in hot, dry karroid areas, deep shade on humus-rich soil in riverine forest and montane forest and grassland on high mountains in Lesotho.
Least Concern (
Widespread from Beaufort West (Western Cape) in the central Great Karoo, through the Eastern Cape and eastern Free State to south-western KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa, as well as in Lesotho (Fig.
Krantz aloe (English); kransaalwyn (Afrikaans); inhlaba-encane, inhlazi, inkalane, inkalane-encane, umhlabana (Zulu).
Much-branched shrub, 2–5 m high.
(February) June–July (August).
Usually in pockets of rich soil on krantz edges, rocky slopes and outcrops in areas of high summer rainfall, sometimes in dense bush.
Least Concern (
The krantz aloe is very widely distributed in south-eastern Africa and has the third widest distribution range of all
In the past, several variations of
Kleinaalwyn (Afrikaans).
Herbaceous acaulescent perennial.
January–March.
Rocky sandstone and quartzitic outcrops.
Least Concern (
Widespread but rare throughout Gauteng, Mpumalanga and Limpopo, South Africa, with records from KwaZulu-Natal in South Africa and Namibia, possibly also in Botswana and Zimbabwe (Fig.
Broad-leaved grass aloe (English); breëblaargrasaalwyn (Afrikaans); incothobe, isiphukuthwane, isiphuthumane, isiputhujane (Zulu).
Grass aloe.
December–January.
Eastern escarpment grassland, open rocky grassy hillsides.
Least Concern (L. von Staden pers. comm.).
This species is widely distributed in eastern southern Africa, occurring in the Eastern Cape, western KwaZulu-Natal, eastern Free State, Mpumalanga and Limpopo in South Africa, as well as eastern Lesotho and western Eswatini (Fig.
Candelabrum aloe (English); doringaalwyn, kandelaaraalwyn (Afrikaans); umhlaba (Zulu).
Solitary, arborescent plant up to 2–4 m high.
June–July.
Thornveld and bushy places on rocky slopes and hills and undulating country.
Near-threatened. Threats include habitat loss and degradation owing to silviculture, agriculture (mainly sugarcane) and urban expansion, as well as encroachment by alien invasives and illegal harvesting (L. von Staden pers. comm.).
More or less restricted to the valleys between the Umkhomazi and Umgeni Rivers in KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa (Fig.
The
Recognition of
Chabaud’s aloe (English); grysaalwyn (Afrikaans); inhlaba, inkalane (Zulu).
Acaulescent plants or stem very short, procumbent; rosettes up to 0.5 m high, suckering or dividing to form dense groups.
April–August.
Usually on bare rock on granite domes, at foot of granite whalebacks and outcrops or in shallow soil pockets and shady wooded slopes. Frost-sensitive.
Least Concern (
Centre of distribution in Zimbabwe, extending north to Zambia and Malawi and south-western Tanzania, west into eastern Botswana, the Caprivi Strip of north-eastern Namibia, east to Mozambique and south to the Limpopo, Mpumalanga and northern KwaZulu-Natal provinces of South Africa, as well as Eswatini (Fig.
One other variety is recognised in
Cooper’s aloe (English); cooperse-aalwyn (Afrikaans); isipukutwane, isiputumane, inqimindolo (Zulu).
Grass aloe. Acaulescent plants or
December–February.
Regularly occurs in marshy places. Grows also in well-drained habitats, often amongst rocks on grassy hillsides.
Least Concern, but declining. Threats include habitat transformation owing to commercial silvicultural and agricultural practices, as well as overgrazing and alien invasives (
Occurs mainly in KwaZulu-Natal and Mpumalanga, just entering the eastern Free State, the southeast of Limpopo and the northern part of the Eastern Cape in South Africa, also widespread in Eswatini and just entering Lesotho and Mozambique (Fig.
In recent years,
De Wet’s aloe (English); dewetse-aalwyn (Afrikaans).
Acaulescent plants, 0.5–0.8 m high; rosettes solitary, erect, can be over 1 m in diameter.
February–March.
Windswept, gently sloping open grassland in midlands of the province on heavy soils, in areas with fairly cold winters and high rainfall with a summer maximum.
Least Concern (
Limited to northern KwaZulu-Natal and southern Mpumalanga in South Africa, as well as Eswatini (Fig.
Grass aloe, 0.3–0.4 m high.
June–October.
Wedged between rocks in short grassland, often on steep, dry, rocky slopes.
Near-threatened. Threats include overgrazing, alien invasives and poor recruitment owing to too frequent fires (
Confined to the central highlands of KwaZulu-Natal in South Africa, from Estcourt to Vryheid; just entering southern Eswatini (Fig.
Ecklon’s aloe (English); ecklonse-aalwyn, vlei-aalwyn (Afrikaans); isipukutwane, isiphuthumane (Zulu).
Grass aloe. Acaulescent plants or
November–February.
Usually on heavy clay soils which pack hard on drying. Flat to undulating grassland, rarely on rocky slopes.
Least Concern (
This species is the most widely distributed grass aloe in southern Africa, occurring along the Great Escarpment in the Eastern Cape, KwaZulu-Natal, eastern Free State, Gauteng and Mpumalanga, South Africa, as well as in Lesotho and western Eswatini (Fig.
Gerstner’s aloe (English); bergaalwyn (Afrikaans); isihlabane (Zulu).
Acaulescent plants or
February–March.
Rocky slopes in grassland in areas with cold winters and reasonably high rainfall, on granite or quartzite formations.
Endangered. Threats include habitat degradation owing to erosion caused by overgrazing and subsistence farming (
Restricted to a small area in northern KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa (Fig.
Grass aloe. Acaulescent plants or
October–November.
Damp, low-lying grassland and on grassy slopes.
Vulnerable. Threats include habitat loss owing to silviculture, agriculture and urban expansion, as well as overgrazing and alien invasives. There is also a potential threat from coal mining (L. von Staden pers. comm.).
Only known from the area on the border between KwaZulu-Natal and Mpumalanga in South Africa and just entering south-western Eswatini (Fig.
Near Wakkerstroom and Volksrust in KwaZulu-Natal,
Grass aloe. Acaulescent plants, rosettes solitary, erect, with old persistent leaf bases forming a subterranean ovoid bulb-like swelling.
November.
In sparse short grass in areas of dry, low-altitude, thorny, open woodland. Grows in the transition zone between open grassland and valley bushveld. Shale and sandstone. Hot summers, but can be very cold in winter.
Endangered. Threats include habitat degradation owing to overgrazing, subsistence farming and urban expansion (
Only known from the Bushmans River catchment between Weenen and Estcourt in KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa (Fig.
Grass aloe (English); grasaalwyn (Afrikaans).
Grass aloe. Acaulescent plants; rosettes solitary, leaf bases forming bulb-like underground swelling.
October–November.
Grassland in reasonably high rainfall areas. Rather heavy, stone-free soils.
Near-threatened. Threats include habitat transformation and degradation owing to mining, commercial afforestation and alien invasives, as well as a loss of pollinators and poor fire management leading to poor recruitment (
Widely but sparsely distributed. This species has a disjunct distribution: it occurs in the Kokstad area on the border of KwaZulu-Natal and the Eastern Cape province; and then along the Great Escarpment in northern KwaZulu-Natal, Mpumalanga and just entering the eastern Free State, South Africa, as well as in Eswatini (Fig.
Broad-leaved yellow grass aloe (English); isipukutwane, isiputumane (Zulu).
Grass aloe. Acaulescent plants or
November–February.
Damp places in sandy soil or on stony slopes of grassy hillsides in the mistbelt of the KwaZulu-Natal midlands.
Endangered. Threats include habitat loss and degradation owing to silviculture, agiculture (mainly sugarcane) and urban expansion, as well as alien invasives (L. von Staden pers. comm.). It is one of the rarer of the grass aloes owing to habitat loss (
Confined to the coastal areas of KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa, where it is still fairly common (Fig.
Dwarf yellow grass aloe (English); inkuphuyana (Zulu).
Grass aloe, up to ± 0.3 m high. Acaulescent plants or
January–February (March).
Damp places in open sunny situations in stony grassveld or on grassy slopes, often on rocky outcrops.
Least Concern. Threats include habitat transformation owing to commercial silvicultural and agricultural practices and urban expansion, as well as overgrazing and poor fire management (
Mainly found in the grasslands of southern and central KwaZulu-Natal and the northern Eastern Cape, South Africa, with a few scattered collections from northern KwaZulu-Natal and Mpumalanga of South Africa; also just entering north-western Eswatini (Fig.
Common soap aloe (English); bontaalwyn (Afrikaans); amahlala, icena (isiZulu).
Acaulescent plants or with
June–September in the north, December–January in the south.
Variety of grasslands, scrub, thicket and on rocky outcrops.
Least Concern (
This subspecies is one of the most widely distributed of the spotted aloes. It occurs from the Cape Peninsula through the Western and Eastern Cape, into the eastern Free State, through KwaZulu-Natal to Mpumalanga, South Africa; also in Lesotho and Eswatini (Fig.
One other subspecies is recognised, namely
Mountain aloe (English); bergaalwyn, boomaalwyn, snuifaalwyn (Afrikaans); ikhala, imihlaba, inhlaba, inhlabane, umhlaba (Zulu).
1 | Stems simple, erect, up to 4 m high; leaves with many surface prickles; racemes 30–50 cm long; flowers 30–35 mm long |
|
– | Stems suckering to form clumps, erect or oblique to procumbent, 1.00–1.75 m high; leaves with no to few surface prickles; racemes 15–25 cm long; flowers 18–30 mm long |
|
Solitary, arborescent plant of up to 5–6 m high (subsp.
June–August, as late as September along the Witwatersrand, Gauteng, South Africa (subsp.
Both subspecies are Least Concern (
Wateraalwyn (Afrikaans).
Grass aloe, 0.35–0.50 m high; rosettes usually solitary. Acaulescent plants or
January–March.
Well-drained, dry, open sandy or stony places in coastal grassland, often wedged between rocks.
Near-threatened. Threats include agricultural practices, urban expansion and the encroachment of alien invasives (
Occurs in a fairly narrow coastal to near-coastal strip from the Uniondale area in the Western Cape to Bathurst in the Eastern Cape, with outlier collections from Mt Ayliff in the north-eastern Eastern Cape and Karkloof in KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa (Fig.
Pink grass aloe (English); isipukushane, isipukutwane, isiputuma, isiphuthumane, isiphukhutshane (Zulu).
Grass aloe, 0.2–0.3 m high. Acaulescent plants; rosettes single, erect.
January–February.
Hilly and mountainous grassland on fairly heavy soils with loose stones.
Least Concern (
Occurs from the far northern parts of the Eastern Cape, just south of Port Edward, widespread through KwaZulu-Natal and along the Great Escarpment into Mpumalanga, South Africa and western Eswatini (Fig.
Vlei aloe (English); vlei-aalwyn (Afrikaans).
Grass aloe. Acaulescent plants; rosettes solitary, erect, 0.2–0.3 m high; leaf bases forming bulb-like swelling underground.
January–February.
Stony ground in high altitude open grassland in areas characterised by cold winters and high rainfall. Reasonably heavy and sometimes shale soils.
Endangered. Threats include commercial afforestation, overgrazing, alien invasives and urban expansion (
Known only from the mountains around Barberton and near Dullstroom and Lydenburg, Mpumalanga and from the Wakkerstroom area near the KwaZulu-Natal border, South Africa (Fig.
Muden aloe (English); kleinaalwyn (Afrikaans); icena (Zulu).
Caulescent plants, 0.25–0.5 m tall; rosettes simple or sometimes in small groups.
June–July.
Valley bushveld and thicket on sandy loam. Lower areas of warm valleys.
Near-threatened. Threats include silviculture, agriculture (mainly sugarcane) and urban expansion, as well as overgrazing (L. von Staden pers. comm.).
KwaZulu-Natal midlands, on the Mpumalanga border with northern KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa and in Eswatini (Fig.
umakhuphulwane (Zulu).
Grass aloe, 0.2–0.3 m high. Acaulescent plants; rosettes solitary or sometimes suckering to form small groups.
January–May/April (southern Africa), May–June (Kenya and Uganda).
Grows amongst rocks and on rocky slopes in high-altitude montane grassland.
Least Concern (
A typical Afromontane (sensu
Neil’s aloe (English); neilse-aalwyn (Afrikaans).
Grass aloe.
December–January.
Southeast-facing aspects in rocky grassland.
Endangered. Threats include habitat fragmentation and destruction owing to commercial silvicultural and agricultural practices (
Known from only two localities near Karkloof and New Hanover, in the midlands of KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa (Fig.
Shiny aloe (English); blinkaalwyn (Afrikaans).
Grass aloe of ± 0.30–0.36 m tall.
January–March.
Open rocky grassland.
Critically Endangered. Threats include habitat degradation due to overgrazing, urban expansion and commercial afforestation (
Known from a small area near Babanango in the KwaZulu-Natal midlands, South Africa (Fig.
Lowveld spotted aloe (English); pers-bontaalwyn (Afrikaans); icena, inkalane (Zulu).
Acaulescent plants or
June–July.
On rocky outcrops in flat grassland in hot, low-lying thorny savannah and similar thorny woodland in the Lebombo Mountains.
Least Concern (
Northern KwaZulu-Natal, eastern Mpumalanga and Limpopo in South Africa, also in Eswatini, southern Mozambique and Zimbabwe (Fig.
Until recently,
Grass aloe. Acaulescent, rosettes solitary, erect.
January–March.
Short grassland, on level or gently sloping areas on the summit of hills, in shallow soil over exposed sloping sandstone rock sheets and in rocky places with thin soil and sparse grass.
Vulnerable. Threats include habitat loss and degradation owing to urban expansion, as well as alien invasives, overgrazing and incorrect fire management (L. von Staden pers. comm.).
Confined to a small area between Pinetown and Cato Ridge in central KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa (Fig.
French aloe, many-toothed tree-aloe (English); fransaalwyn (Afrikaans).
Tree or shrub, up to 3 m high.
May–June.
Succulent thicket vegetation on hillside slopes within a coastal strip and, in the north of its range, along the ecotone of coastal forest pockets.
Least Concern (
This species has a disjunct distribution range. It occurs from the Humansdorp area to the Kei River Mouth in the Eastern Cape, as well as in the Durban area in KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa (Fig.
Meadow aloe (English); bergaalwyn (Afrikaans).
Acaulescent plants; rosettes solitary or branching from the base to form small groups, 15–25 cm diameter.
August–December.
In exposed positions amongst rocks in sloping montane grassland in some of the coldest parts of the southern Drakensberg.
Least Concern (
It occurs in the central and northern Eastern Cape and along the Great Escarpment and in south-western KwaZulu-Natal along the Drakensberg Mountain Range to Royal Natal National Park, South Africa, as well as Lesotho (Fig.
Spotted aloe (English); bontaalwyn (Afrikaans).
Acaulescent plants, 0.15–0.25 m high; rosettes usually solitary, erect.
June–October.
Dense grass understorey of open woodland in KwaZulu-Natal midlands on thin soil. More rarely in open, rocky outcrops. Rainfall relatively low, summers hot and winters very cold.
Endangered. Threats include trampling by livestock and too frequent fires. In the past, populations were negatively impacted by illegal collecting (
Limited to an area near Colenso in the KwaZulu-Natal midlands, South Africa (Fig.
Kleinaalwyn, slangkop (Afrikaans); icena elihkulu (Zulu).
Shortly caulescent plant, 0.25–0.60 m tall.
February–March.
In shade in acacia savannah in KwaZulu-Natal midlands on heavy loam in areas of fairly high summer rainfall.
Endangered. Threats include urban expansion and harvesting for use in traditional medicine (
Occurs from Pietermartizburg to Durban and northwards to the uThukela (Tugela) River valley, KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa (Fig.
Reitz’s spring aloe (English); lente-bergaalwyn (Afrikaans).
Acaulescent plants or rarely with short
August–September.
Steep well-drained granitic slopes in grassland.
Vulnerable. Threats include harvesting for medicinal purposes and damage by feeding baboons (
Confined to a small area in the Vryheid District, KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa (Fig.
The typical variety,
Bottle-brush aloe (English); borselaalwyn, kraalaalwyn (Afrikaans); inkhalane, umhlabanhlazi, uphondonde (Zulu).
Solitary, arborescent plant.
August–September.
Zululand thornveld, coastal plain on sandy soils, sometimes dense bush, usually on rocky outcrops. Areas with warm, completely frost-free winters. Usually found in groups amongst trees.
Least Concern (
Central to northern KwaZulu-Natal in South Africa, eastern Eswatini and southern Mozambique (Fig.
Acaulescent grass aloe, 0.05–0.075 m high; rosettes solitary or suckering to form small tufted groups.
February–March.
Rocky outcrops in rock crevices and clumps of moss or in flat exposed places in short rocky grassland on mountain tops, in rich black soil.
Endangered. Threats include overgrazing and too frequent fires (
Only known from the central parts of KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa (Fig.
Sharon’s grass aloe (English); sharonse-grasaalwyn (Afrikaans)
Grass aloe, 0.30–0.65 m high. Acaulescent plants or
February–March.
Open grassland on all slope aspects.
Least Concern (
Sparse. Limited to KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa and Eswatini, although this species may also occur in southern Mozambique (Fig.
Natal aloe (English); natalaalwyn (Afrikaans); umhlaba (Zulu).
Solitary, arborescent plant up to 5 m high.
June–August.
Wide variety of habitats, including rocky places and open situations in grassland and savannah on hills.
Least Concern (
Occurs in a small area in west-central KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa. Plants on the farm Bester Schrik, Winburg, Free State, South Africa, 5 km north of the Korannaberg, are a naturalised population (blue on map; Fig.
Lebombo aloe (English); Lebombo-aalwyn (Afrikaans); inhlaba (Zulu).
Acaulescent to arborescent or shrubby plants.
June–August.
Wide variety of soils and habitats, including steep rocky slopes and cliffs. It is never found in exposed situations in deep soil.
Least Concern (
Northern KwaZulu-Natal, Mpumalanga and Limpopo in South Africa, also throughout Eswatini and in southern Mozambique, with an isolated record in Zimbabwe (Fig.
Sand aloe, climbing flower aloe (English); sandaalwyn (Afrikaans).
Shortly caulescent plants; rosettes solitary or sometimes suckering to form dense groups.
June–July.
Under bushes, in sand with loose humus, on heavy black clay soils or on termite mounds, in very hot places. Very susceptible to cold.
Least Concern (
Widespread but infrequent, from northern KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa, through the coastal plains of southern Mozambique, to south-eastern Zimbabwe and southern Malawi (Fig.
Book aloe (English); boekaalwyn (Afrikaans); icena, umhlabandlazi (Zulu).
Acaulescent plants or rarely with short
May–July.
Usually occurs in cracks in rocks or near sheer cliffs, along or near top of mountains, on rocks or rocky slopes in montane grassland or in places where soil is virtually absent or too thin to support other vegetation. Most localities receive frequent mist.
Least Concern (
Northern KwaZulu-Natal and just into eastern Mpumalanga in South Africa, as well as Eswatini (Fig.
Dune aloe, strand aloe (English); strandaalwyn (Afrikaans); umhlaba (Zulu).
Solitary, arborescent plant, up to 3 m high.
June–July.
Beach dunes, in almost pure sand in low coastal vegetation or taller bush.
Near-threatened. Threats include habitat loss owing to urban expansion along the coast, as well as illegal collecting (
Occurs in a narrow coastal strip from the far northern coast of the Eastern Cape into KwaZulu-Natal to just north of Durban, South Africa (Fig.
Groot-bontaalwyn (Afrikaans); icena, ilicena (Zulu).
Acaulescent plant or with short
July–August.
Low-lying sub-tropical open savannah, open grassland and on rocky places for some distance along rivers and watercourses.
Near-threatened. Threats include habitat loss and degradation owing to trampling by livestock, erosion and agriculture (L. von Staden pers. comm.).
Northern KwaZulu-Natal in South Africa, as well as south-eastern Eswatini and just entering southern Mozambique (Fig.
Van Balen’s aloe (English); rooiblaaraalwyn (Afrikaans); icenalamatshe, incenalendlovu, icenandhlovu, inhlahlwane (Zulu).
Acaulescent plants or
June–July.
Flat rocks and rocky outcrops with minimal soil in Nkonkoni Veld and Zululand Thornveld. Frost-free area with moderately high summer rainfall.
Least Concern (
Confined to the Lebombo Mountain range in northern KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa and southern Eswatini (Fig.
Van Rooyen’s aloe (English); vanrooyense-aalwyn (Afrikaans).
Acaulescent plants; rosettes solitary, very rarely suckering to form small groups; with persistent dried leaves.
October–November.
Thornveld savannah.
Least Concern (
Known from the region linking Ladysmith, Newcastle and Vryheid, KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa (Fig.
Green's aloe (English); groenaalwyn (Afrikaans); icena (isiZulu).
Acaulescent plants; rosettes suckering to form large dense groups, erect, 0.15–0.25 m high.
January–March.
On stony soil, in low-lying flat sandy areas, often in deep shade or semi-shade in dry thorny woodland.
Least Concern (
Fairly widespread, but uncommon, in eastern KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa. Possibly also in southern Mozambique (Fig.
This aloe has been known under the name
Dolomite aloe, Vryheid aloe (English); bruinaalwyn (Afrikaans).
Acaulescent or arborescent plants or
July–August.
Usually on alkaline soils derived from shale or dolomite (on sandstone at Vryheid).
Least Concern (L. von Staden pers. comm.).
Mountainous areas of northern KwaZulu-Natal, Mpumalanga and Limpopo, South Africa (Fig.
Special thanks to Ms Lize von Staden, Threatened Plants Programme, South African National Biodiversity Institute, Pretoria, for providing conservation assessments for several taxa; to Dr Hester M. Steyn, National Herbarium, South African National Biodiversity Institute, for providing base maps for the distribution maps and for assistance in generating the biome map; to those who made photographs available; and to the reviewers for suggesting improvements to the manuscript.