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Scientific Name | Gasteria nitida (Salm-Dyck) Haw. |
Higher Classification | Monocotyledons |
Family | ASPHODELACEAE |
Synonyms | Aloe decipiens (Haw.) Schult. & J.H.Schult., Aloe elongata Salm-Dyck, Aloe nitida Salm-Dyck, Aloe nitida Salm-Dyck var. grandipunctata Salm-Dyck, Aloe nitida Salm-Dyck var. major Salm-Dyck, Aloe nitida Salm-Dyck var. minor Salm-Dyck, Aloe nitida Salm-Dyck var. obtusa Salm-Dyck, Aloe nitida Salm-Dyck var. parvipunctata Salm-Dyck, Aloe obtusa (Salm-Dyck) Schult. & J.H.Schult., Aloe trigona (Haw.) Schult. & J.H.Schult., Aloe trigona Salm-Dyck, Aloe trigona Salm-Dyck var. obtusa Salm-Dyck, Gasteria beckeri Schönland, Gasteria decipiens Haw., Gasteria nitida (Salm-Dyck) Haw. var. grandipunctata (Salm-Dyck) A.Berger, Gasteria nitida (Salm-Dyck) Haw. var. parvipunctata (Salm-Dyck) A.Berger, Gasteria obtusa (Salm-Dyck) Haw., Gasteria stayneri Poelln., Gasteria trigona Haw., Haworthia nigricans Haw. |
National Status |
Status and Criteria | Near Threatened B1b(iii,v)+2b(iii,v) |
Assessment Date | 2023/08/17 |
Assessor(s) | H. Mtshali |
Justification | This species has an extent of occurrence (EOO) of 17 718 km², and an area of occupancy (AOO) of 132 km². It is known from at least 20 locations. It has lost 18% of its habitat to agriculture and urban development, and it continues to be threatened by illegal harvesting and alien invasive plants. This species is listed as Near Threatened as it nearly meets the thresholds for listing as Vulnerable under criterion B. |
Distribution |
Endemism | South African endemic |
Provincial distribution | Eastern Cape, Western Cape |
Range | This species has a wide distribution in the south-eastern Cape coastal regions, from near Uniondale in the west to near the Great Fish River mouth in the east. |
Habitat and Ecology |
Major system | Terrestrial |
Major habitats | Humansdorp Shale Renosterveld, Loerie Conglomerate Fynbos, Algoa Sandstone Fynbos, Kouga Grassy Sandstone Fynbos, Kouga Sandstone Fynbos, Tsitsikamma Sandstone Fynbos, Sundays Valley Thicket, Grass Ridge Bontveld, Grahamstown Grassland Thicket |
Description | It grows in grassy fynbos and renosterveld, on quartzitic sandstone soil. |
Threats |
At least 18% of this species' habitat has been lost to agriculture and infrastructure development.
The genus Gasteria is in high demand in the international horticultural trade. Surveys of this species in the Eastern Cape indicate it is heavily harvested. This species is additionally threatened by habitat loss due to infrastructure development (wind turbines and housing developments), which is ongoing. Alien invasive plants have also been recorded in some parts of its range. |
Population |
The population size is presently unknown, but it is inferred to be declining due to illegal harvesting.
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Population trend | Decreasing |
Assessment History |
Taxon assessed |
Status and Criteria |
Citation/Red List version | Gasteria trigona Haw. | Least Concern | Raimondo et al. (2009) | Gasteria nitida (Salm-Dyck) Haw. var. nitida | Least Concern | Raimondo et al. (2009) | |
Bibliography |
Bredenkamp, C.L. 2019. A flora of the Eastern Cape Province. Strelitzia 41. South African National Biodiversity Institute, Pretoria.
Govaerts, R. 1996. World Checklist of Seed Plants 1, 2:1-492, MIM, Deurne.
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.
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Citation |
Mtshali, H. 2023. Gasteria nitida (Salm-Dyck) Haw. National Assessment: Red List of South African Plants version . Accessed on 2024/12/06 |