FLORA OF SOUTHERN AFRICA

VOLUME 5

Editor G. Germishuizen

Part 1

Fascicle 1: Aloaceae (First part): Aloe

by H.F. Glen and D.S. Hardy

Digitized by the Internet Archive

in 2016

https://archive.org/details/floraofsoutherna511 unse

FLORA OF SOUTHERN AFRICA

which deals with the territories of

SOUTH AFRICA, LESOTHO, SWAZILAND, NAMIBIA AND BOTSWANA

VOLUME 5

PART 1

FASCICLE 1: ALOACEAE (FIRST PART): ALOE

by

H.F. Glen and D.S. Hardy

Scientific editor: G. Germishuizen

Technical editor: E. du Plessis

NATIONAL

Botanical

Pretoria

2000

Editorial Board

B.J. Huntley

R.B. Nordenstam

W. Greuter

National Botanical Institute, Cape Town, RSA

Swedish Museum of Natural History, Stockholm, Sweden

Botanischer Garten und Botanisches Museum Berlin-

Dahlem, Berlin, Germany

Cover illustration:

The South African 10-cent piece in use from 1965 to 1989 had a depiction

of Aloe aculeata on the reverse. Cythna Letty made the original painting

from which the coin was designed. The illustration on the cover is derived

(by removal of the figures of value) from a digital photograph of this coin

by John Bothma, first published in Hem (1999, Hem’s handbook on South

African coins & patterns , published by the author, Randburg). Reproduced

by kind permission of J. Bothma.

Typesetting and page layout by S.S. Brink, NBI, Pretoria

Reproduction by 4 Images. P.O. Box 34059, Glenstantia, 0010 Pretoria

Printed by Afriscot Printers, P.O. Box 75353, 0042 Lynnwood Ridge

© published by and obtainable from the

National Botanical Institute, Private Bag X101, Pretoria, 0001 South Africa

Tel. (012) 804-3200 Fax (012) 804-32 1 1

ISBN 1-919795-49-9

CONTENTS

New taxa, new combinations and new statuses published in Volume 5, Part 1 , Fascicle 1

(First part) iv

Introduction v

Aloaceae 1

Aloe 1

Section 1: Leptoaloe 4

Section 2: Haemanthifoliae 23

Section 3: Longistylae 25

Section 4: Aristatae 31

Section 5: Echinatae 32

Section 6: Proliferae 37

Section 7: Rhodacanthae 40

Section 8: Serrulatae 46

Section 9: Pictae 50

Section 10: Paniculatae 68

Section 1 1 : Superpositae 73

Section 12: Asperifoliae 76

Section 13: Latebracteatae 85

Section 14: Chabaudia 88

Section 15: Macrifoliae 92

Section 16: Aloe 99

Section 17: Purpurascentes 104

Section 18: Arborescentes 109

Section 19: Principales 114

Section 20: Anguialoe 115

Section 21: Ortholophae 121

Section 22: Pachythamnos 126

Section 23: Pachydendron 131

Section 24: Dracoaloe 139

Section 25: Aloidendron 143

Section 26: Kumara 145

Species insufficiently known 148

Species excluded 148

References 152

Index 161

Appendix:

Plan of Flora of southern Africa A-l

FSA contributions in Bothalia A-3

Flora of southern Africa : alphabetical list of published taxa A-4

NEW TAXA, NEW COMBINATIONS AND NEW STATUSES

PUBLISHED IN VOLUME 5, PART 1, FASCICLE 1 (FIRST PART)

Aloe dichotoma Masson var. ramosissima ( Pillans ) Glen & D.S. Hardy, comb, et stat. nov., p. 142

Aloe microstigma Salm-Dyck subsp. framesii (L.Bolus) Glen & D.S. Hardy, comb, et stat. nov., p. 107

Section Aristatae ( A. Berger ) Glen & D.S. Hardy, stat. nov., p. 31

Section Asperifoliae (A. Berger) Glen & D.S. Hardy, stat. nov., p. 76

Section Chabaudia Glen & D.S. Hardy, sect, nov., p. 88

Section Haemanthifoliae (A. Berger) Glen & D.S. Hardy, stat. nov., p. 23

Section Latebracteatae (A. Berger) Glen & D.S. Hardy, stat. nov., p. 85

Section Longistylae (A. Berger) Glen & D.S. Hardy, stat. nov., p. 25

Section Macrifoliae (Haw.) Glen & D.S. Hardy, stat. nov., p. 92

Section Ortholophae (Christian) Glen & D.S. Hardy, stat. nov., p. 121

Section Pachythamnos Glen & D.S. Hardy, sect, nov., p. 126

Section Principales (A. Berger) Glen & D.S. Hardy, stat. nov., p. 114

Section Superpositae (Pole Evans) Glen & D.S. Hardy, stat. nov., p. 73

Date of publication: May 2000.

IV

INTRODUCTION

This part was compiled in accordance with the Guide for contributors to the Flora of southern

Africa (compiled by Leistner, Ross & De Winter and available from the Editor, National Botanical

Institute, Private Bag X101, Pretoria, 0001 South Africa).

Some maps show the distribution of the various taxa outside the FSA region as well.

The numbering of the genus is according to De Dalla Torre & Harms in their Genera siphonoga-

marum (1900-1907), as adapted by Arnold & De Wet (1993, Plants of southern Africa: names and

distribution).

v

DAVID SPENCER HARDY

24 September 1931 - 31 May 1998

ALOACEAE: Aloe

ALOACEAE

by H.F. Glen* and D.S. Hardy**

Perennial herbs, shrubs or trees, usually with fusiform roots, rarely with bulbs. Leaves rosulate, 3-

or 5-ranked or rarely distichous, succulent, linear to deltoid. Inflorescence spicate, racemose or

capitate, simple or branched, apparently axillary. Flowers 6-merous, usually pedicellate, regular,

bilabiate or gasteriform. Perianth cylindrical to trigonous, sometimes with a basal swelling,

straight or curved, red, orange, yellow, whitish, greenish, bicoloured or tricoloured; segments in

two series, free or connate. Stamens inserted at base of ovary, with included or exserted anthers.

Ovary trilocular, superior; style 1, included or exserted; ovules many in each locule. Fruit a loculi-

cidal capsule or rarely a berry. Seeds tetrahedral, brown or black, variously winged.

Genera in this family are similar not only in their gross morphology but also in anatomy, cytol-

ogy and chemistry. The family is linked to Asphodelaceae by the genus Kniphofia, which is simi-

lar to Aloe in some respects but resembles core Asphodelaceae in others.

A family of six genera, about 475 species; all genera except Aloe endemic to southern Africa.

We regard Lomatophyllum (14 species, Madagascar and Mascarenes) as a section of Aloe.

1026000 ALOE

Aloe L., Species plantarum: 319 (1753) pro parte; Baker: 302 (1896a); A. Berger: 159 (1908);

Reynolds: 103 (1950); R. A. Dyer: 928 (1976). Type species: A. perfoliata L.

Catevala Medik.: 67 ( 1 786) pro parte. Type species: none cited. Name rejected for Haworthia Duval.

Kumara Medik.: 69, t. 4 ( 1786). Type species: K. disticha Medik., nom. illegit.

Rhipidodendron Willd.: 164 (1811). Type species: none cited.

Pachidendron Haw.: 35 (1821). Type species: none cited.

Bowiea Haw.: 122 (1827) pro parte. Type species: B. africana Haw.

Busipho Salisb.: 76 (1866). Type species: none cited.

Ptyas Salisb.: 76 ( 1866) (apparently a nom. nov. for Kumara Medik.).

Chamaealoe A. Berger: 130 ( 1908); Oberm.: 119 (1973). Type species: C. africana (Haw.) A. Berger.

Leptaloe Stapf: t. 9300 (1933); E. Phillips: 186 (1951). Type species: L. albida Stapf.

Aloinella (A. Berger) A.Lemee: 27 (1939). Type species: A. haworthioides (Baker) A.Lemee.

Perennial herbs, shrubs or trees, usually with fusiform roots, rarely with bulbs. Leaves succu-

lent, linear to deltoid, margins usually dentate, surfaces rarely with prickles. Inflorescence spicate,

racemose or capitate, simple or branched, apparently axillary. Flowers 6-merous, usually pedicel-

late, regular, slightly irregular or rarely bilabiate. Perianth cylindric to trigonous, sometimes with

a basal swelling, usually straight (if curved then without a basal swelling), red, orange, yellow,

whitish or rarely greenish, often bicoloured; segments in two series, free or connate. Stamens with

included or exserted anthers. Ovary trilocular, superior; style 1, included or exserted; ovules many

in each locule. Fruit a loculicidal capsule. Seeds tetrahedral, brown or black, variously winged.

* National Botanical Institute, Private Bag X101, Pretoria. 0001 South Africa.

** Late of the National Botanical Institute, Private Bag X101, Pretoria, 0001 South Africa.

ALOACEAE: Aloe

la Sterile bracts on peduncles absent, or subtending only inflorescence branches, or very

few:

2a Plants caulescent:

3a Inflorescence racemose:

4a Raceme horizontal to oblique, secund 21. Sect. Ortholophae (p. 121)

4b Raceme erect, symmetrical:

5a Leaves distichous 26. Sect. Kumara (p. 145)

5b Leaves spirally arranged 15. Sect. Macrifoliae (p. 92)

3b Inflorescence paniculate:

6a Stems simple, rarely several from base; racemes usually secund, or if not then dense,

longer than 500 mm 21. Sect. Ortholophae (p. 121)

6b Stems branched; racemes symmetrical, lax, shorter than 500 mm:

7a Leaves biconvex in transverse section to shallowly canaliculate, less than 7 times

as long as wide; flowers yellow 24. Sect. Dracoaloe (p. 139)

7b Leaves deeply canaliculate, over 7 times as long as wide; flowers pink

25. Sect. Aloidendron (p. 143)

2b Plants stemless:

8a Outer perianth segments free for half or more of their length:

9a Racemes secund 21. Sect. Ortholophae (p. 121)

9b Racemes symmetrical:

10a Anthers and style exserted more than 2 mm 12. Sect. Asperifoliae (p. 76)

10b Anthers and style included or exserted less than 2 mm

13. Sect. Latebracteatae (p. 85)

8b Outer perianth segments connate for half or more of their length:

11a Leaves aristate, with hairlike prickles arising from white tubercles

4. Sect. Aristatae (p. 31)

1 lb Leaves not aristate, lacking prickles and tubercles:

12a Leaves with spots in transverse bands; perianth inflated around ovary

9. Sect. Pictae (p. 50)

12b Leaves with longitudinal stripes, or if spotted then spots irregularly placed and

perianth not inflated around ovary:

13a Perianth trigonously indented 14. Sect. Chabaudia (p. 88)

13b Perianth not indented 10. Sect. Paniculatae (p. 68)

lb Sterile bracts plentiful on peduncles:

14a Anthers and styles exserted more than 2 mm:

15a Perianth segments connate in lower half:

16a Pedicels longer than 13 mm 11. Sect. Superpositae (p. 73)

16b Pedicels shorter than 13 mm:

17a Plants caulescent, erect 23. Sect. Pachydendron (p. 131)

17b Plants stemless or stems decumbent:

1 8a Leaves rough; plants indigenous to Northern Cape, Namibia and Angola

12. Sect. Asperifoliae (p. 76)

18b Leaves smooth; plants indigenous to KwaZulu-Natal, Northern Province, Mpu-

malanga and Zimbabwe 22. Sect. Pachythamnos (p. 126)

15b Perianth segments free to base:

19a Pedicels up to 12 mm long:

20a Plants caulescent:

21a Perianth tubular; flowers pedicellate 19. Sect. Principals (p. 114)

21b Perianth campanulate; flowers sessile to subsessile 20. Sect. Anguialoe (p. 115)

ALOACEAE: Aloe

3

20b Plants stemless:

22a Perianth campanulate 20. Sect. Anguialoe (p. 115)

22b Perianth tubular:

23a Leaves without scattered surface prickles and shorter than 150 mm

6. Sect. Proliferae (p. 37)

23b Leaves with scattered surface prickles, or if without prickles then longer than

150 mm 3. Sect. Longistylae (p. 25)

19b Pedicels 12 mm long or longer:

24a Perianth shorter than 15 mm 3. Sect. Longistylae (p. 25; A. chlorantha )

24b Perianth longer than 15 mm:

25a Leaves spotted or with longitudinal stripes 17. Sect. Purpurascentes (p. 104)

25b Leaves unspotted and without longitudinal stripes:

26a Plants unbranched, erect 11. Sect. Superpositae (p. 73)

26b Plants with branched stems; if unbranched, then stems pendent

18. Sect. Arborescentes (p. 109)

14b Anthers and styles included or exserted less than 2 mm:

27a Leaves linear, strap-shaped or subulate, if deltoid then plant with a bulb:

28a Leaf margins with teeth longer than 1 mm; leaves up to 5 times as wide as thick . .

5. Sect. Echinatae (p. 32)

28b Leaf margins entire or with teeth shorter than 1 mm; leaves over 5 times as wide

as thick:

29a Leaves fibrous; margins entire 2. Sect. Haemanthifoliae (p. 23)

29b Leaves not fibrous; margins usually minutely dentate 1. Sect. Leptoaloe (p. 4)

27b Leaves lanceolate to deltoid (plants without bulbs):

30a Leaves spotted or with longitudinal stripes:

31a Leaves 3-ranked; margins cartilaginous 8. Sect. Serrulatae (p. 46)

31b Leaves rosulate; margins not cartilaginous:

32a Perianth constricted at mouth 17. Sect. Purpurascentes (p. 104)

32b Perianth not constricted at mouth 7. Sect. Rhodacanthae (p. 40)

30b Leaves without lines and spots:

33a Inflorescence shorter than 500 mm, corymbose 16. Sect. Aloe (p. 99)

33b Inflorescence longer than 500 mm, racemose:

34a Stems solitary, erect 11. Sect. Superpositae (p. 73)

34b Stems branched, if solitary then pendent 18. Sect. Arborescentes (p. 109)

A genus of some 350 species, occurring in Africa, Madagascar, Arabia, the Canary Islands and

the Comoro Islands, with one species. Aloe vera (L.) Burm.f., naturalised in the Caribbean and in

South America. In southern Africa as treated here, there are 119 indigenous species. Most if not all

of the nonsouthern African species have been cultivated from time to time in southern Africa.

Some, such as A. camperi Schweinf., are not only very common in cultivation but are occasional-

ly found in disturbed places as garden escapes.

Aloe may be distinguished from Kniphofia by its succulent leaves, and apparently axillary, often

branched inflorescences. Most species of Aloe can be separated from Haworthia by habit; all can

be separated by the symmetry of the flower. Many species of Aloe are caulescent, but all species

of Haworthia are stemless, and most species of Aloe are larger than all species of Haworthia. In

Aloe the flowers are (almost) regular with three-fold symmetry, or irregular with a single plane of

symmetry. In Haworthia the flowers are bilabiate, with one, two or four planes of symmetry. Aloe

is distinguished from Gasteria by the flowers. The flowers of Gasteria are very ventricose with

4

ALOACEAE: Aloe

upturned mouths; in Aloe the flowers are usually not ventricose, and do not have swellings as

marked as in Gasteria or upturned mouths in ventricose flowers. These two genera are further dis-

tinguished by leaf colour (almost always pale green or glaucous in Aloe\ those of Gasteria are dark

green to almost black), leaf tubercles (absent in Aloe , present in Gasteria) and flower colour. No

species of Aloe has the tricoloured flowers that are common in Gasteria , and the particular shade

of pink that is characteristic of flowers of Gasteria is unknown in Aloe. The minor genus Astroloba

differs from Aloe in its habit (no Aloe has 5-ranked leaves on elongate stems) and bilabiate flow-

ers. The flower characters that separate Aloe and Haworthia also separate Aloe and Chortolirion,

but the latter genus has a distinctly bulbous rootstock not found in Haworthia.

Note: the keys presented here do not take hybrids into account and should not be expected to

work with material of hybrid origin.

1. Section Leptoaloe

Section Leptoaloe A.Berger in Das Pflanzenreich 33: 164 (1908); Reynolds: 120 (1950). Type

species: A. ecklonis Salm-Dyck.

Section Graminialoe Reynolds: 104 (1947a); Reynolds: 110 ( 1950). Type species: A. myriacantha (Haw.) Roem. & Schult.

Plants stemless or rarely caulescent; roots usually fusiform, rarely bulbous. Leaves linear to del-

toid, sometimes deciduous, less succulent than those of other sections of the genus, distichous to

rosulate, margins usually dentate, rarely entire. Inflorescence a simple, rarely branched, capitate to

elongate raceme; peduncle with many sterile bracts. Flowers red, pink, salmon or yellow; perianth

regular or zygomorphic. Anthers and stigmas included or shortly exserted.

1 a Bracts ovate:

2a Plants caulescent:

3a Plants erect:

4a Plants solitary; leaves distichous; flowers orange 15. A.fouriei

4b Plants in clumps; leaves rosulate; flowers yellow 10. A. dominella

3b Plants prostrate or pendent:

5a Leaves ± 7 per rosette, relatively narrow 12. A. soutpansbergensis

5b Leaves ±16 per rosette, broader 13. A. nubigena

2b Plants stemless or almost so:

6a Leaves distichous:

7a Leaves deep green; inner perianth segments dorsally adnate to outer; bracts acute . .

14. A. verecunda

7b Leaves bright green; inner perianth segments free; bracts acuminate:

8a Raceme sublax; conical; perianth red to salmon-pink; leaves keeled; capsule grey

2 1 . A. cooperi

8b Raceme dense; capitate; perianth yellow; leaves not keeled; capsule buff

17. A. linearifolia

6b Leaves rosulate:

9a Plants in clumps:

10a Leaves up to 16 per clump; flowers whitish:

1 la Bracts ± 1 1 mm long, longer than pedicels

2. A. albida

ALOACEAE: Aloe

5

lib Bracts ± 7 mm long, as long as pedicels 1 . A. saundersiae

10b Leaves 20 or more per clump; flowers yellow; bracts as long as pedicels

10 . A. dominella

9b Plants solitary;

1 2a Raceme lax; plant with a bulb 5. A. kniphofioides

12b Raceme dense or subdense; plant without a bulb:

13a Plants over 350 mm tall:

14a Bracts shorter than pedicels; perianth orange to red; plants indigenous to North-

ern Province 16. A. vossii

14b Bracts as long as pedicels; perianth pink; plants indigenous to Eastern Cape and

KwaZulu-Natal 20. A. micracantha

13b Plants up to 300 mm tall, often much smaller:

15a Perianth mouth upturned; bilabiate:

16a Plant over 200 mm tall; leaves canaliculate 3. A. myriacantha

16b Plant up to 100 mm tall; leaves not canaliculate 2. A. albida

15b Perianth mouth straight; symmetrical:

17a Leaves up to 175 x 3 mm; plants up to 75 mm tall LA. saundersiae

17b Leaves 220 x 4 mm or larger; plants over 200 mm tall 4. A. minima

lb Bracts deltoid:

18a Plants with bulbs:

19a Leaves over 300 mm long, deltoid; plants from northern Namibia or tropical Africa

8. A. buettneri

19b Leaves up to 200 mm long, linear to lorate; plants from KwaZulu-Natal, Mpu-

malanga or Northern Province:

20a Leaf margin entire; flowers yellowish green, scented 6. A. modesta

20b Leaf margin denticulate; flowers grass-green, not scented 7. A. inconspicua

18b Plants without bulbs; roots fusiform:

21a Leaves linear:

22a Raceme cylindric; flowers sessile; bracts longer than pedicels 22. A. bowiea

22b Raceme capitate; flowers distinctly pedicellate; bracts as long as pedicels:

23a Leaves glaucous; bracts acuminate 9. A. chortolirioides

23b Leaves bright green; bracts acute 10. A. dominella

21b Leaves lorate to ensiform:

24a Leaf margins entire 18. A. integra

24b Leaf margins minutely denticulate:

25a Plants erect; leaves erect to spreading; inflorescence erect, ovary green

19. A. ecklonis

25b Plants decumbent to pendent; leaves reflexed; inflorescence oblique, ovary yellow

1 1. A. thompsoniae

Almost all species in this group are characteristic of grassland. The grass aloes are less succulent

than other groups in the genus, and generally flower in summer (the rainy season). Some occur in

heavy, wet soils but most inhabit thin, stony, well-drained soils. Species with bulbous underground

organs, though separated into a group on their own by Reynolds (1966), are included here because

of the similarity of their above-ground parts to those of other members of this group and because

of the presence of intermediate species that link them to this group rather than to any other. Narrow-

leaved species in this group are generally difficult to distinguish from the grasses among which

they grow, except when flowering. All grass aloes are easily distinguished from other aloes.

6

ALOACEAE: Aloe

Figure 1. — Section Leptoaloe. Aloe albida: habit, x 1. Taken from Glen & Hardy (1990a).

ALOACEAE: Aloe

7

1 . Aloe saundersiae ( Reynolds ) Reynolds in

Journal of South African Botany 13: 103 (1947a);

Reynolds: 111 (1950); Jeppe: 128 (1969);

Bomman & D.S. Hardy: 1 ( 1972); B.-E. van Wyk

& G.F.Sm.: 288 (1996). Type: KwaZulu-Natal,

Nkandhla forest, Saunders in Reynolds 1799

(PRE!).

Leptaloe saundersiae Reynolds: 124 (1936a).

A. minima J.M.Wood: t. 338 (1906) non Baker. Type:

KwaZulu-Natal, Nkandhla, Wylie s.n. (NH !).

Stemless grass aloe 50-75 mm tall, solitary

or rarely in small groups; roots fusiform. Leaves

10-16 in a rosette, linear, 40-175 x 3 mm, bright

green, slightly canaliculate, margins minutely

dentate. Inflorescence a capitate raceme; pedun-

cle 190-235 mm long; bracts ovate-acuminate,

thin, scarious, 7 x 3-4 mm, ± 5-nerved. Flowers

cream-coloured or pale pink, 9-12 mm long;

pedicels 8-10 mm long; segments free. Anthers

not exserted. Ovary ±2x1 mm, brownish; stig-

ma not exserted. Fruit and seeds not seen.

Flowering time February to March.

Endemic to KwaZulu-Natal and well-attested

from grassland on a single mountain-top in

Zululand, with a few outlying specimens. Map 1.

Plants of this smallest member of the genus

Aloe are about half the size of those of A. alhida

(no. 2) and sucker far less freely. The flowers of

Map 1. — ★ Aloe saundersiae

0 A. albida

A. saundersiae are even smaller than those of A.

alhida and are regular, not zygomorphic.

In cultivation, this species is more susceptible

to the depredations of snails than any other. Lady

Saunders, after whom this species is named, col-

lected the type specimen in the 1930s.

Vouchers: Codd 6980 (NH, PRE); Hilliard

1198 (NU); Hilliard & Burn 15485 (PRE);

Reynolds 3225 (PRE); Wisura 1170 (NBG).

2. Aloe albida (Stapf) Reynolds in Journal

of South African Botany 13: 101 (1947a);

Reynolds: 111 (1950); Jeppe: 128 (1969);

Bomman & D.S. Hardy: 3 (1972); Compton: 97

(1976); Glen & D.S.Hardy: t. 2010 (1990a); B.-

E. van Wyk & G.F.Sm.: 250 (1996). Type:

Mpumalanga, Barberton, Sharp s.n. (K, holo.!;

PRE, photo.!).

Leptaloe albida Stapf: t. 9300 (1933).

A. kraussii Baker var. minor Baker: 306 (1896a). A. myr-

iacantha (Haw.) Roem. & Schult. var. minor (Baker)

A. Berger: 167 (1908). Type: Mpumalanga, near Barberton,

Galpin 873 (K, holo.!: BOL!, GRA!. PRE!; PRE. photo.!).

A. kraussii Schonland: 34 (1903) non Baker. Type:

Mpumalanga. Barberton, Galpin 873 (GRA. holo.!: BOL!,

K!, PRE!: PRE. photo.!).

Stemless grass aloe 75-100 mm tall, solitary

or in small groups; roots fusiform. Leaves 6-12

in a rosette, linear, 50-180 x 1-5 mm, bright

green, slightly canaliculate above, broadly del-

toid in section, margins with minute white teeth.

Inflorescence a capitate raceme; peduncle 1 00—

350 mm long, with sterile bracts; bracts ovate-

acuminate, ± 1 1 x 2-5 mm, 3-7-nerved. Flowers

whitish, 13-18 mm long; pedicels ± 10 mm long;

outer segments free, inner segments not adnate to

the outer, mouth distinctly bilabiate, upturned.

Anthers not or very shortly exserted. Ovary ±3.0

x 1 .5 mm, olive-green; stigma not or very short-

ly exserted. Fruit ±8x4 mm, buff. Flowering

time February to March. Figure 1 .

Occurs in Mpumalanga and Swaziland. Aloe

albida is one of the few heat-sensitive species

of Aloe. Although it can be cultivated away

ALOACEAE: Aloe

from this area in a cool, shady place, it does not

survive in cultivation even at the foot of its

native mountains. Like A. sciundersiae (no. 1),

this species is readily eaten by snails, but often

grows vigorously enough in cultivation to make

good the damage. Map 1.

This species is most similar to A. saundersi-

ae and A. inconspicua (no. 7). Differences

between A. albida and A. sciundersiae are dis-

cussed above. In A. inconspicua the flowers are

green, not white, the leaves are slightly wider

than in A. albida and there is a bulb-like

swelling at the base of the plant, which is not

the case in A. albida. Plants of A. inconspicua

rarely if ever sucker, while plants of A. albida

do so readily, and may form large many-headed

clumps. In nature they appear to sucker less

freely, and solitary plants are often found.

The specific epithet albida is the Latin for

'whitish' and refers to the unusual dirty-white

flowers.

Vouchers: Codcl 7825 (PRE); Collins TRV9897

(PRE); Galpin 873 (BOL, GRA, K, PRE);

Reynolds 4966 (PRE); Thorncroft 73 (BM, K,

PRE).

3. Aloe myriacantha (Haw.) Roem. &

Schult., Systema vegetabilium 7: 704 (1829);

Kunth: 516 (1843); Baker: 156 (1880a); Baker:

306 (1896a); A. Berger: 166 (1908); Reynolds:

100 (1947a); Reynolds: 116 (1950); Jeppe: 129

(1969); Bomman & D.S. Hardy: 7 ( 1972); West:

33 (1974); B.-E. van Wyk & G.F.Sm.: 282

(1996). Iconotype: unpublished plate at Kew,

from plant collected by Bowie and described by

Haworth.

Bowiea myriacantha Haw.: 122 (1827). Leptaloe myria-

cantha (Haw.) Stapf: t. 9300 (1933).

Stemless grass aloe 200-300 mm tall, solitary;

roots fusiform. Leaves 8-12 in a rosette, linear,

220-300 x 5-10 mm, bright green, slightly

canaliculate, margins with minute while teeth.

Inflorescence a capitate raceme; peduncle

200-500 mm long, with sterile bracts; bracts

ovate-acuminate, 10-20 x 4—5 mm, 5-many-

nerved. Flowers reddish pink or rarely whitish,

12-25 mm long; pedicels 10-19 mm long; outer

segments free, mouth upturned, bilabiate. Anthers

not or very shortly exserted. Ovary ±4x2 mm,

tapering into style; stigma not or very shortly

exserted. Fruit and seed not seen. Flowering time

(in southern Africa) January to May.

Found in the Northern Province, Mpuma-

langa, Swaziland, KwaZulu-Natal and the

Eastern Cape; also in Uganda, Kenya, Rwanda,

Tanzania, Malawi and Zimbabwe. A. myriacan-

tha characteristically grows among rocks in

short, high-altitude grassland. At the southern

end of its distribution range these conditions

occur at lower altitude than to the north, and so,

for example in the Mkambati Nature Reserve,

this species is found less than a kilometre from

the sea, at an altitude of less than 100 m. After

A. buettneri (no. 8), A. myriacantha is the most

widespread of all aloes, with a north-to-south

range of over 5 000 km. Map 2.

The southern African aloe most similar to A.

myriacantha is A. albida (no. 2). A. myriacan-

tha is usually a much larger plant than A. albi-

da, although small plants are found in 'hostile’

habitats, such as thin soil on the edge of rock

outcrops. The flowers of A. myriacantha are

usually pink, although they may occasionally be

very pale and appear almost white. The grey-

white flowers with greenish tips characteristic

Map 2. — Aloe myriacantha

ALOACEAE: Aloe

9

of A. albida are not found in this species. Plants

of A. myriacantha very rarely form clumps,

unlike those of A. albida.

The specific epithet is derived from two

Greek words meaning ‘10 000 thorns’. The leaf

margins have many fine teeth.

Vouchers: Galpin 7814 (PRE); Glass Herb.

Austro- Afr.l 554 (K, SAM, UPS); Jacobsen

3324 (PRE); Reynolds 1181 (BOL, PRE);

Smook 29 (MO).

4. Aloe minima Baker in Hooker’s icones

plantarum 25: t. 2423 (1895); Baker: 305

(1896a); A. Berger: 166 (1908); Reynolds: 101

(1947a); Reynolds: 118 (1950); Jeppe: 127

(1969); Bornman & D.S. Hardy: 9 (1972);

Compton: 101 (1976); B.-E. van Wyk & G.F.Sm.:

278 (1996). Type: KwaZulu-Natal, South Downs,

M.S. Evans 409 (K, holo.!; NH!; PRE, photo.!).

A. pan’iflora Baker: 785 (1901a); A. Berger: 165 (1908);

Reynolds: 101 (1947a); Reynolds: 113 (1950); Jeppe: 126

(1969); Bornman & D.S. Hardy: 5 (1972). Leptaloe pan’i-

flora (Baker) Stapf: t. 9300 (1933). Type: KwaZulu-Natal,

Pinetown, Junod 146 (Z. holo.; PRE, photo.!).

L. minima (Baker) Stapf: t. 9300 (1933).

L. blyderivierensis Groenew.: t. 651 (1938a). A. minima

Baker var. blyderivierensis (Groenew.) Reynolds: 101

(1947a); Reynolds: 120 (1950). Type: Mpumalanga, north

of Pilgrims Rest, Van der Merwe 38 (PRE!).

Stemless grass aloe 200-300 mm tall, soli-

tary; roots fusiform. Leaves 6-10 in a rosette, lin-

ear to lorate, 220-340 x 4-6 mm, bright green,

slightly canaliculate, margins minutely denticu-

late. Inflorescence a capitate raceme; peduncle

220-480 mm long; bracts ovate-acuminate, ± 12

x 5 mm, ± 5-nerved. Flowers dull pink or grey-

ish, 7-15 mm long; pedicels 10-20 mm long,

lengthening in fruit; inner and outer segments

free. Anthers not or very shortly exserted. Ovary

± 4.0 x 1 .5 mm; style not or very shortly exsert-

ed. Fruit 10-15 x 5-7 mm, buff to pale grey.

Flowering time February to March.

Found in Mpumalanga, Swaziland, KwaZulu-

Natal and the Eastern Cape. Aloe minima grows

Map 3. — Aloe minima

in grassland on fairly heavy soils with loose

stones. In this habitat it is unlike many of the

members of this section, which grow wedged

between large rocks. Map 3.

The differences between this species and A.

saundersiae (no. 1) are analogous to those be-

tween A. myriacantha (no. 3) and A. albida (no.

2). A. minima is a much larger plant than A.

saundersiae , and has larger pink Bowers. Plants

are solitary, and no instances of clumping have

been recorded in this species. This species is

much more widespread than A. saundersiae.

When it was described, this was the smallest

Aloe known; minima in Latin means ‘smallest’.

The Zulu names for this species are isipukut-

wane , isipukushane and isiputuma (Reynolds

1950). The Zulu eat the young inflorescences of

this species raw, as a vegetable.

Vouchers: Acocks 13291 (PRE); Codcl 6401

(PRE); Dver 5321 (BOL, NH, PRE); Reynolds

3457 (PRE); Strey 6425 (NH. PRE).

5. Aloe kniphofioides Baker in Hooker’s

icones plantarum 20: t. 1939 (1890); Baker: 305

(1896a); A. Berger: 170 (1908); Reynolds: 9

(1948a); R. A. Dyer: t. 1120 (1950): Reynolds:

122 (1950); Jeppe: 118 (1969); Bornman &

D.S. Hardy: 11 (1972); Compton: 100 (1976);

B.-E. van Wyk & G.F.Sm.: 270 (1996). Type:

10

ALOACEAE: Aloe

Eastern Cape, Mt Enkansweni, Tyson 2829 (K,

holo.!; BOL!, GRA!, PRE!, SAM!; PRE,

photo.!).

A. marshalli J.M.Wood & M.S. Evans: 353 (1897);

A. Berger: 171 (1908). Type: KwaZulu-Natal, near Glencoe,

Medley Wood s.n. ( NH ! ).

Stemless grass aloe 35CM-00 mm tall, soli-

tary; rootstock bulbous. Leaves ± 20 in a

rosette, linear to narrowly lorate, 120^480 x

5-8 mm, slightly canaliculate or shallowly D-

shaped in section, margins entire or minutely

dentate. Inflorescence a lax raceme; peduncle

simple, 300-550 mm long, with sterile bracts;

bracts ovate-acuminate, 15-22 x 5-7 mm, 7-9-

nerved. Flowers scarlet, 25-40(-50) mm long,

cylindric; pedicels 12-18 mm long; outer seg-

ments connate for most of their length, inner

segments adnate to outer, apices of all segments

greenish. Anthers not or hardly exserted. Ovary

5-6 x 2-3 mm; style not or hardly exserted.

Fruit ± 22 x 11 mm. Flowering time November.

Found in Mpumalanga, Swaziland, KwaZulu-

Natal, the eastern Free State and the Eastern

Cape. A. kniphofioides is another grassland

species in areas of reasonably high rainfall. It

grows in rather heavy, stone-free soils. Map 4.

The lax inflorescence and distinct bulb of

this species distinguish it from all other south-

ern African aloes. Among southern African bul-

bous aloes, A. modesta (no. 6) has similar

Map 4. — Aloe kniphofioides

leaves but a much denser raceme of small yel-

lowish green (not red), scented flowers, A.

inconspicua (no. 7) is smaller in all its parts and

has a short, dense raceme of green odourless

flowers, and A. buettneri (no. 8) is much larger

in all its parts, with broad leaves and a branched

panicle of yellow flowers with basal swellings.

This species is named for its resemblance to

some species of Kniphofia (red-hot pokers).

Vouchers: Acocks 15352 (PRE); Brownlee

235 (PRE); Codd 9392 (PRE); Compton 27216

(PRE); Reynolds 1124 (PRE).

6. Aloe modesta Reynolds in Journal of

South African Botany 22: 85 (1956); Jeppe: 132

(1969); Bornman & D.S. Hardy: 13 (1972);

D.S. Hardy: 510 (1974); B.-E. van Wyk &

G.F.Sm.: 280 (1996); C.L.Craib & G.Condy: 4,

t. 2121 (1997). Type: Mpumalanga, near

Dullstroom, De Wet in Reynolds 7626 (PRE!).

Stemless grass aloe 200-300 mm tall, soli-

tary; rootstock bulbous. Leaves 4-8 in a rosette,

lorate, 150-200 x 6-9 mm, bright green, slight-

ly canaliculate, margins entire, cartilaginous.

Inflorescence a capitate raceme; peduncle

250-300 mm long, with sterile bracts; flower-

bearing bracts lanceolate-acuminate, 10-13 x

4-6 mm, 3-5-nerved; flowers upwardly spread-

ing to horizontal, subsessile. Flowers yellowish

green, scented, 10-15 mm long, cylindric to

trigonous; pedicels ± 1 mm long; mouth

upturned, outer segments free. Anthers exserted

up to 3 mm. Ovary green, ± 4.0 x 2.5 mm; style

exserted up to 5 mm. Fruit and seed not seen.

Flowering time January to February.

Found in the Northern Province, Mpuma-

langa and KwaZulu-Natal. A. modesta grows in

grassland in an area characterised by cold win-

ters and high rainfall. The soils in which it

occurs are reasonably heavy and sometimes

shaly. Map 5.

This is the only species of Aloe in Africa

which regularly has scented flowers. Differ-

ALOACEAE: Aloe

11

Map 5. — • Aloe modesta

★ A. inconspicua

▲ A. buettneri

ences between this species and A. kniphofioides

(no. 5) are dealt with under that species. With its

bulbous rootstock and capitate raceme of sessile

flowers, A. modesta is so distinctive that it is not

likely to be confused with any species other

than A. kniphofioides.

The specific epithet, meaning ‘sober’, ‘mod-

est’ or ‘unassuming’, refers to the inconspicu-

ous appearance of this species.

Vouchers: Devenish 1323 (NH, PRE); Thorn-

croft 479 (NH).

7. Aloe inconspicua Plowes in Aloe 23: 32

(1986); B.-E. van Wyk & G.F.Sm.: 266 (1996).

Type: KwaZulu-Natal, near Estcourt, Plowes

7079 (PRE!).

Stemless grass aloe 150-300 mm tall, soli-

tary, with leaf bases forming a bulbous swel-

ling; roots fleshy. Leaves 6-12 in a rosette,

100-200 x 3-5 mm, dark green, canaliculate,

lower surface with pale spots near base, margins

cartilaginous, minutely dentate. Inflorescence a

simple, very dense raceme; peduncle ± 150 mm

tall, with few sterile bracts; bracts deltoid-

cirrhous, 12-20 x 3-6 mm, 5-nerved. Flowers

sessile, grass-green, unscented. 10-15 mm

long, throat slightly narrowed, mouth irregular;

segments with white margins, free to base.

Anthers exserted up to 1 mm. Ovary ± 3.0 x 1 .5

mm, bright green; style not exserted. Fruit

ochre-brown. Seeds tetrahedral, black. Flower-

ing time November.

Endemic to thornveld in KwaZulu-Natal.

Unlike other species of similar appearance, such

as A. alhida (no. 2), A. inconspicua inhabits an

area of dry, low-altitude, thorny, open woodland

which is hot in summer, but can become very

cold in winter. The plants are extremely well-

camouflaged at all phases of their life cycle by

the green colour of both leaves and flowers, and

the fact that they are rarely if ever as tall as the

grasses on the woodland floor. A. inconspicua

grows in a yellow, clayey soil which is almost as

hard as concrete when dry. Map 5.

The form of the bulbous swelling at the leaf

bases suggests that this plant is intermediate

between A. albida (no. 2) and A. myriacantha

(no. 3) on the one hand, and A. kniphofioides

(no. 5) and A. modesta (no. 6), on the other.

Differences between this species and A. knip-

hofioides and A. modesta are discussed under A.

kniphofioides. Differences between A. incon-

spicua and the species most similar to it, A.

albida , are discussed under that species.

The extremely apt specific epithet of this

species refers to the great difficulty of finding

these well-camouflaged plants in the veld.

Vouchers: Glen 1607 (PRE); Green s.n. (NU);

West 1504 (NH).

8. Aloe buettneri A. Berger in Botanische

Jahrbiicher 36: 60 (1905a); A. Berger: 241

(1908); Keay: 67 (1963); Reynolds: 41 (1966);

Jankowitz: 51 (1973); D.S.Hardy: 523 (1974);

Jankowitz: 48 (1975). Type: Togo, near Bis-

marckburg, Biittner 24 (B, holo.; PRE. photo.!).

A. barteri Baker: 168 (1880a) pro parte: Baker: 464

(1898a) pro parte; Hutch. & Dalziel: 345 (1936) pro parte.

Type: Guinea, Nupe, Barter 1502 (K, holo.; PRE, photo.!).

12

ALOACEAE: Aloe

A. paedogona A. Berger: 57 (1906a); A. Berger: 240(1908).

Type: Angola, Malanga, Gossweiler 946 (BM).

A. bulbicaulis Christian: t. 630 (1936a); Reynolds: 12 (1954).

Type: Zambia, Misundu, Christian PRE20587 (PRE!).

Stemless grass aloe 300-850 mm tall, usual-

ly solitary, rarely branching into two; rootstock

bulbous. Leaves up to 16 in a rosette, decidu-

ous, deltoid, 350-800 x 70-120 mm, distinctly

V-shaped in section, leathery, apple-green, mar-

gins dentate. Inflorescences 2 or 3 consecutive-

ly, each 3-5(-12)-branched, 0.4-1 m long; ra-

cemes subcapitate to conical; peduncles with

sterile bracts; floriferous bracts deltoid-acumi-

nate, 7-15 x 5-8 mm, 5-7-nerved. Flowers

greenish yellow to bright red, 28-45 mm long,

obconic with a globose basal swelling; pedicels

15-25 mm long, elongating to 50 mm in fruit;

outer segments free near apex, inner segments

free but adnate to outer. Anthers exserted up to

2 mm. Ovary ±7x8 mm; style exserted up to

4 mm. Fruit 35 — 45 x 15-25 mm, yellow-green-

brown, with few transverse ribs. Seeds pale

grey, winged, ± 12 x 6 x 4.5 mm. Flowering

time (in southern Africa) October to March.

Found in northern Namibia; also throughout

tropical Africa as far afield as Senegal, Togo

and Malawi. In Namibia A. buettneri occurs in

floodplains in an extremely flat area in mopane

veld. In summer, the entire region is flooded for

long periods. Map 5.

The bulbous basal swelling of the flower

resembles that in section Pictae , but there is no

other point of resemblance suggesting an affin-

ity between this species and that section. Points

of difference include the bulbous rootstock and

broad, yellow-green, sharply channelled but not

keeled, unspotted leaves. However, it is the

most unusual member of this section. It would

not readily be confused with any other aloe, on

account of the combination of characters men-

tioned above.

In Mali, the bulb of this species yields an

arrow poison and is used as a cicatrising agent

for wounds (Watt & Breyer-Brandwijk 1963).

Otto Buttner, after whom this species is named,

was a German botanist who flourished in the

then German colonies of Kamerun (Cameroun)

and Togo at the turn of the 19th to the 20th cen-

tury. He was in charge of the agricultural

research station at Bismarckburg in Togo.

Vouchers: Fanshawe 1780 (K); Muller 11802

(PRE); Pawek 4824 (K, MO); Reynolds 9328

(PRE); Torre & Pereira 12410 (LISC).

9. Aloe chortolirioides A. Berger in Das

Pflanzenreich 33; 171 (1908); Pole Evans: t.

160 (1924a); Reynolds: 124 (1950); Jeppe: 116

(1969); Bomman & D.S. Hardy: 15 (1972);

Compton: 98 ( 1976); B.-E. van Wyk & G.F.Sm.:

254 (1996). Type: Mpumalanga, Barberton,

Thorncroft s.n. (BOL!).

A. boastii Letty: t. 553 ( 1934a); Reynolds: 102 ( 1938a). A.

chortolirioides A. Berger var. boastii (Letty) Reynolds: 127

(1950); Compton: 98 (1976). Type: Swaziland, Forbes Reef,

H.W. Boast PRE 16563 (PRE!).

Much-branched short-stemmed grass aloe

200-300 mm tall, forming dense tufts; roots

fusiform. Leaves 15-20 in a rosette, linear,

90-250 x 2-5 mm, canaliculate, dull green, mar-

gins dentate. Inflorescence a simple capitate

raceme; peduncle 150-250 mm long, with sterile

bracts; bracts deltoid-acuminate, 13-17 x 4-5

mm, 3-5-nerved. Flowers yellow to red, 20-35

mm long, cylindric; pedicels 10-25 mm long;

segments free almost to base. Anthers exserted

up to 2 mm. Ovary green, 5-6 x 2-3 mm; style

exserted up to 5 mm. Fruit ±14x7 mm.

Both varieties of A. chortolirioides usually

occur wedged between rocks in grassland in the

mist belt on the escarpment of the Northern

Province, Mpumalanga and Swaziland.

Individual heads of a plant of this species may

be confused with A. kniphofioides (no. 5). This

species normally forms vast clumps with 50 or

more heads of leaves, is short-stemmed and not

bulb-forming, and has dense capitate racemes.

Plants of A. kniphofioides are solitary, stemless

and bulb-forming, with lax cylindric racemes. A.

dominella (no. 10) is similar to this species, but

has wider leaves and shorter flowers.

ALOACEAE: Aloe

13

Two varieties are recognised:

Leaves up to 250 x 5 mm

9a. var. chortolirioides

Leaves up to 400 x 8 mm . . . 9b. var. woolliana

9a. var. chortolirioides.

Description as for species.

Found in the Northern Province, Mpuma-

langa and Swaziland. A. chortolirioides var.

chortolirioides flowers only after burning, but

var. woolliana will flower without the aid of

fire. Because var. chortolirioides needs fire to

flower, it is difficult to cite a flowering season,

but it has been recorded as flowering from

March to September. Map 6.

The specific epithet indicates a resemblance

between this species and Chortolirion angol-

ense (or Haworthia angolensis), a member of

the Asphodelaceae.

Vouchers: Compton 27804 (PRE); Galpin

490 (BOL, K, NBG, PRE, SRGH); Onderstall

899 (PRE); Reynolds 3308 (PRE); Verdoorn

2523 (PRE).

Hybrid:

A. chortolirioides var. chortolirioides x A.

arborescens (no. 96). Voucher: Leach 502

(SRGH).

9b. var. woolliana (Pole Evans ) Glen &

D.S. Hardy in South African Journal of Botany

53: 489 (1987a).

A. woolliana Pole Evans: t. 557 (1934a); Reynolds: 128

(1950); Jeppe: 117 (1969); Bornman & D.S. Hardy: 17

(1972). Type: Mpumalanga, Kaapsehoop, Pole Evans

PRE8320 (PRE!).

Plants slightly taller and more robust, up to

400 mm tall. Leaves linear-lorate, 250^100 x

4-8 mm, faintly striate. Bracts 5-7-nerved. All

other characters as for species.

Found in the Northern Province. Mpuma-

langa and Swaziland. Map 7.

The variety is more robust than the species,

with larger leaves. It flowers in summer without

fire stimulus.

Mr Woolley, after whom this variety is

named, lived in Barberton in the 1930s and col-

lected the first specimen of this plant, which

was passed on to Pole Evans by Thorncroft.

Vouchers: Code! 8060 (PRE); Hardy 4262

(PRE); Kluge 1376 (PRE); Mogg 13940 (PRE);

Reynolds 3004 (PRE).

10. Aloe dominella Reynolds in Journal

of South African Botany 4: 101 (1938a);

Reynolds: 129 (1950); Jeppe: 130 (1969): Bom-

14

ALOACEAE: Aloe

man & D.S. Hardy: 19 (1972); B.-E. van Wyk &

G.F.Sm.: 258 (1996). Type: KwaZulu-Natal,

between Estcourt and Mooi River, Reynolds

2094 (PRE!).

Much-branched, short-stemmed grass aloe

300-400 mm tall, forming dense tufts; roots

fusiform. Leaves ± 20 in a rosette, linear,

70-375 x 2-10 mm. D-shaped in section, mar-

gins dentate. Inflorescence a simple capitate

raceme; peduncle 250-350 mm long, with ster-

ile bracts; bracts ovate-deltoid, ± 15 x 3^1 mm,

3-5-nerved. Flowers lemon-yellow, 13-18 mm

long; pedicels 13-20 mm long; all segments

free to base. Anthers exserted 2-4 mm. Ovary’

2-4 x 1 .5-2 mm, green; style exserted up to 7

mm. Flowering time June to September.

Occurring in Swaziland and KwaZulu-Natal.

Like A. chortolirioides (no. 9), A. dominella

occurs wedged between rocks in grassland.

Flowering in this species does not seem to be as

strongly linked to fire as in A. chortolirioides.

Reynolds (1950) notes that in cultivation, flow-

ering occurred in February (a very unusual time

for field plants) in an unburnt plant and July to

October (a month later than usual for field

plants) in a plant that was deliberately burnt.

Evidently, therefore, there is some link between

fire and flowering in this species. Map 8.

Map 8. — 9 Aloe dominella

★ A. thompsoniae

A note attached to Acocks 10693 states that

the flowers are sweet-scented. This seems to be

the only record of this character in this species.

The only taxon with which it is likely to be con-

fused is A. chortolirioides. Differences between

this species and the latter are discussed under

that species.

The specific epithet seems to be a corruption

of the Latin word dominilla, which signifies

(roughly) ‘the lady of the house’. The explana-

tion of this unusual choice of name appears to

be that the type specimen was collected on a

farm belonging to a Miss Quested.

Vouchers: Acocks 10693 (NH, PRE); De Wet

PRE 37707 (BOL, NH, PRE); Trauseld 1098

(NU); Van der Merwe 2768 (PRE); West 2125

(PRE).

11. Aloe thompsoniae Groenew. in Tyd-

skrif vir Wetenskap en Kuns 14: 64 (1936a)

sphalm. thompsoni ; Reynolds: t. 980 (1945);

Reynolds: 131 (1950); Jeppe: 1 19 (1969); Born-

man & D.S. Hardy: 21 (1972); Glen & G.F.Sm.:

37 (1995); B.-E. van Wyk & G.F.Sm.: 292

(1996). Type: Northern Province, Haenertsburg,

Thompson PRE274 (PRE, lecto.!).

Much-branched grass aloe 150-200 mm tall,

suckering to form dense recumbent to pendent

clumps; roots fusiform. Leaves 12-18 in a

rosette, lorate, 90-200 x 4-15 mm, often

reflexed, canaliculate, apple-green, margins

dentate. Inflorescences 1-3 from a rosette, sim-

ple, with subcapitate to conical racemes; pedun-

cle 150-200 mm long, with sterile bracts; bracts

deltoid-acute, 9-10 x 3-6 mm, 5-8-nerved.

Flowers orange, 22-28 mm long; all segments

free; pedicels 9-24 mm long. Anthers not

exserted. Ovary 4. 0-5.0 x 1. 5-2.0 mm, lemon-

yellow; style not exserted. Flowering time

December to January.

Occurring in the Northern Province and

Mpumalanga. This is one of the few species of

Aloe that requires permanent high humidity. It

is found on cliffs in the mist belt on this part of

the eastern escarpment. Map 8.

ALOACEAE: Aloe

15

In this species and A. nubigena (no. 13), both

of which are often pendent on rocks, the pedun-

cle is bent, often in a U-curve, so that the

raceme is always vertical. A. thompsoniae dif-

fers from A. nubigena by being a smaller plant

with stiffer leaves and bracts with distinct veins.

In A. thompsoniae the leaves are rosulate, but in

A. nubigena they are often distichous. This

species has rosulate leaves and bracts with dis-

tinct veins, and grows in clumps, whereas A.

soutpansbergensis (no. 12) has fewer leaves,

which are distichous when young, and bracts

with obscure veins, and is often solitary.

Aloe thompsoniae is named after its discov-

erer, Mrs Thompson of Haenertsberg.

Vouchers: Leach 24 (SRGH); Mogg 13939

(PRE, SRGH); Van der Merwe 26 (PRE); Van

Jaarsveld 426 (PRE); Venter 1271 (PRE).

1 2. Aloe soutpansbergensis /. Verd. in The

Flowering Plants of Africa 35: t. 1391 (1962);

Jeppe: 120 (1969); Bornman & D.S. Hardy: 27

(1972); D.S. Hardy: 515 (1974); Glen &’d.S.

Hardy: 151 (1991); B.-E. van Wyk & G.F.Sm.:

290 (1996). Type: Northern Province, Sout-

pansberg, Crundall PRE29005 (PRE!).

Short-stemmed grass aloe 200-300 mm tall,

solitary or suckering; prostrate to pendent.

Leaves ± 7, distichous at first, becoming rosu-

late, lorate, 110-300 x 6-12 mm, canaliculate,

margins minutely denticulate below middle.

Inflorescence a subcapitate raceme; peduncle

160-240 mm long, with few sterile bracts;

bracts ovate-acute, 10-17 x 5-6 mm, veins

obscure. Flowers orange, 19-27 mm long,

cylindric; pedicels 11-25 mm long; segments

free to base. Anthers included. Ovary 3. 5-7.0 x

1. 5-2.0 mm, yellowish green; style included.

Fruit ± 25 x 9 mm, buff to grey. Seeds charcoal-

grey, ± 4 x 2 x 1 mm, not winged. Flowering

time January to February.

Endemic to the Northern Province. A. sout-

pansbergensis occurs wedged between rocks in

the mist belt in the highest areas of the

Soutpansberg. Map 9.

Map 9. — • Aloe soutpansbergensis

★ A. nubigena

Differences between this species and A. thomp-

soniae (no. 11) are dealt with under that species.

Rosettes of A. soutpansbergensis are more often

solitary than those of A. nubigena (no. 13), and

contain fewer, narrower leaves.

The name of this species is derived from its

habitat, in the Soutpansberg.

Vouchers: Galpin 14006 (PRE); Hardy 900

(PRE); Lavranos 1017 (PRE); Meeuse 10345

(PRE); Thompson PRE 37733 (PRE).

13. Aloe nubigena Groenew. in Tydskrif

vir Wetenskap en Kuns 14: 136 (1936b); Pole

Evans: t. 628 (1936a); Reynolds: 132 (1950);

Jeppe: 120 (1969); Bornman & D.S. Hardy: 23

(1972); B.-E. van Wyk & G.F.Sm.: 284 (1996).

Type: Mpumalanga, Graskop, F.Z. van der

Merwe 133 (PRE!).

Plants suckering, forming dense clumps

150-300 mm tall; short-stemmed, pendent.

Feaves ± 16, distichous or rosulate, horizontal

to reflexed, lorate-lanceolate, 160-330 x 12-20

mm, slightly canaliculate, apple-green, margins

entire, ciliate or obscurely denticulate. Inflores-

cence a capitate raceme; peduncle 150-300 mm

long, with sterile bracts; bracts ovate-acute,

10-14 x 3-8 mm, obscurely many-nerved.

Flowers orange, 17-27 mm long, cylindric; all

16

ALOACEAE: Aloe

segments free, often with green apices; pedicels

14-26 mm long. Anthers exserted up to 1 mm.

Ovary pale yellow, 4. 5-6.0 x 2.0 mm; style

exserted up to 1 mm. Fruit ± 19 x 9 mm.

Flowering time December to February.

Occurring in the Northern Province and

Mpumalanga. Aloe nubigena is another cliff-

dweller of the eastern escarpment, and is found

in the mist belt, usually facing seawards. Map 9.

Differences between this species and its

closest allies, A. thompsoniae (no. 11) and A.

soutpansbergensis (no. 12), are discussed under

those species. In addition, the leaves of A.

thompsoniae are armed with distinct, if small,

teeth, whereas those of A. nubigena have suben-

tire margins.

The specific epithet, meaning ‘cloud-born’,

very aptly signifies the habitat of this aloe.

Vouchers: Bos 1018 (K, PRE, STE, WAG);

Cocld 9793 (PRE); Nel 217 (NBG, PRE);

Reynolds 1790 (PRE); Schmitz 4503 (PRE).

Hybrid:

A. nubigena x A. arborescens (no. 96).

Voucher: Brent NBG5 50/56 (NBG).

14. Aloe verecunda Pole Evans in Tran-

sactions of the Royal Society of South Africa 5:

703 (1917); Pole Evans: t. 124 (1924b); Rey-

nolds: 134 (1950); Jeppe: 123 (1969); Bornman

& D.S. Hardy: 25 (1972); B.-E. van Wyk &

G.F.Sm.: 294 (1996). Type: Northern Province,

Wolkberg, P.J. Pienaar s.n. (PRE!).

Apparently stemless grass aloe, 300^450

mm tall, in tufts, rarely solitary. Leaves 8-10,

usually distichous, rarely subrosulate, lorate,

160^400 x 7-15 mm, canaliculate, dark green,

margins dentate. Inflorescence a capitate

raceme; peduncle 250^400 mm long, with ster-

ile bracts; bracts ovate-acute, 16-21 x 4-10

mm, venation obscure. Flowers scarlet to

magenta, 20-30 mm long; outer segments free;

Map 10. — Aloe verecunda

pedicels 20-30 mm long. Anthers exserted up to

3 mm. Ovary ± 7.0 x 2.5 mm; style exserted up

to 10 mm. Fruit grey-buff, 20-25 x 8-10 mm.

Seeds charcoal-grey, ±4x2x2 mm, with

membranous wings. Flowering time December.

Occurring in the Northern Province, Gau-

teng and Mpumalanga. A. verecunda normally

grows wedged between boulders on ridges of

the highveld, in grassland. These places are

colder than the surrounding area, but do not

seem to receive much more rain. Map 10.

Large plants of this species approach A.

cooperi (no. 21) in appearance, but lack the

keeled leaves characteristic of that species. In A.

verecunda there are fewer leaves per head than

in A. cooperi , and the inflorescences are small-

er in all their parts. Differences between this

species and A. vossii (no. 16) are dealt with

under that species.

The specific epithet of this species means

‘modest’ or ‘shy’. In winter the leaves wither

completely, and the plant is then almost impos-

sible to see.

Vouchers: Codd 9882 (PRE, UPS); Galpin

1455 (BOL, PRE); Hardy 3950 (PRE); Plowes

2217 (PRE, SRGH); Reynolds 5708 (PRE,

SRGH).

ALOACEAE: Aloe

17

15. Aloe fouriei D.S. Hardy & Glen in The

Flowering Plants of Africa 49: t. 1941 (1987);

B.-E. van Wyk & G.F.Sm.: 262 (1996). Type:

Mpumalanga, Pilgrims Rest District, Fourie

3070 ( PRE!).

Short-stemmed grass aloe, solitary or form-

ing small clumps; stems ± 150 mm tall, with old

leaf bases adhering in apical ± 100 mm. Leaves

distichous, 275-350 x 10-25 mm, canaliculate,

not keeled, grass-green, margins armed with

teeth ± 0.4 mm long, 0.6 mm wide and 2.5 mm

apart; old leaves dying back with persistent

dead apices, and with white spots on abaxial

surfaces. Inflorescence a subdense, capitate

raceme of ± 20 flowers; peduncle ± 400 mm

long, with ovate-acute sterile bracts; floriferous

bracts with many nerves, ±16x8 mm. Flowers

35^10 mm long, 11-13 mm in diameter at base,

6-8 mm at mouth; all segments free to base,

outer segments orange with green apices, inner

segments yellow with green apices; pedicels

pale green, 23-45 mm long, lengthening in

fruit. Anthers included. Style included.

Occurring in montane grassland of the

Northern Province and Mpumalanga. Aloe

fouriei favours steep slopes of southeastern

aspect in grassland in dolomitic crevices. In

such places, it may grow with stems erect to

oblique. Map 11.

Map 11. — • Aloe fouriei

★ A. vossii

▲ A. linearifolia

The only other southern African species with

any marked similarity to A. fouriei is A. cooperi

(no. 21 ), a stemless species in which the leaves

are keeled, the bracts are smaller than in our

species and the pedicels are the same colour as

the flower, not pale green like the upper pedun-

cle as in our species. The caulescent habit and

subcapitate racemes of this species serve to dis-

tinguish it from other members of section

Leptoaloe. The perianth segments are thick and

fleshy, and so the sutures between the outer seg-

ments appear as channels in the unopened buds

as well as in the mature flowers. The flower is

distinctly trigonous, a character unusual in this

section.

Voucher: Fourie 3070 (PRE); Plowes 2217

(PRE) possibly belongs here.

16. Aloe vossii Reynolds in Journal of

South African Botany 2: 65 (1936b); Reynolds:

136 (1950); Jeppe: 123 (1969); Bornman &

D.S. Hardy: 29 (1972); B.-E. van Wyk &

G.F.Sm.: 296 (1996). Type: Northern Province,

Soutpansberg, VOss in Reynolds 557 (PRE,

holo.!; BOL!).

Apparently stemless grass aloe 400-500 mm

tall, solitary. Leaves 14—20 in a rosette, lorate,

250-500 x 7-25 mm, narrowed towards apex,

margins dentate. Inflorescence a capitate raceme;

peduncle 275-500 mm long, with sterile bracts;

bracts ovate-acute, ± 16x7-11 mm, ± 7-nerved.

Flowers orange to scarlet, 20-30 mm long; all

segments free; pedicels 17-30 mm long. Anthers

not or very shortly exserted. Ovary ± 6.0-7. 0 x

2.5 mm, green; style not or very shortly exsert-

ed. Fruit dark grey-brown. ± 28 x 12 mm.

Flowering time January to February.

Endemic to the Northern Province. A. vossii

grows in dense grassveld rich in forbs, in rocky

places. It requires a somewhat warmer climate

than A. verecunda (no. 14). Map 11.

The leaves of this species are longer and

more copiously spotted than those of A. vere-

cunda, and are rosulate. In addition, there are

18

ALOACEAE: Aloe

minor differences in the form of the leaf spots

and of the flowers.

Mr Harold Voss, after whom this species is

named, made the first collection of it.

Vouchers: Hardy 377 (PRE); Hemm 400 (J,

PRE, VENDA); Leach 8465 (SRGH); Ober-

meyer 1203 (PRE); Van der Merwe 299 (PRE).

17. Aloe linearifolia A. Berger in Botan-

ische Jahrbiicher 57: 640 (1922); Reynolds: 169

(1941); Reynolds: t. 849 (1942); Reynolds: 139

(1950); Jeppe: 130 (1969); Bornman &

D.S. Hardy: 33 (1972); B.-E. van Wyk &

G.F.Sm.: 274 (1996). Type: KwaZulu-Natal,

Dumisa, Rudatis 1643 (B).

Stemless grass aloe 200-300 mm tall, soli-

tary; main stem sometimes once- or twice-

branched. Leaves 6-8, usually distichous, rarely

spirally twisted, lorate, 1 60— 360(— 600) x

4— 8(— 1 0) mm, margins entire or minutely den-

ticulate. Inflorescence a dense capitate raceme;

peduncle 1 60— 350(— 600) mm long, with many

sterile bracts; bracts ovate-acuminate, 10-15 x

4-7 mm, 5-7-nerved. Flowers greenish yellow

to yellow, 11-15 mm long, mouth upturned; all

segments free; pedicels 12-20 mm long.

Anthers not or shortly exserted. Ovary 3. 5-4.0

x 1. 5-2.0 mm, green; style exserted to 2 mm.

Fruit ± 18 x 9 mm, buff. Flowering time

January to February.

Found in Mpumalanga, Swaziland, KwaZulu-

Natal and the Eastern Cape. Plants of this spe-

cies may be commoner than they seem. As they

are slightly smaller than the grasses among

which they grow and the flowers are an incon-

spicuous shade of yellow, they are very difficult

to see in nature. Map 1 1 .

The racemes of this species are similar to

those of A. myricicantha (no. 3) and A. minima

(no. 4), while the flowers are similar in shape,

structure and colour to those of A. ecklonis (no.

19). However, the flowers in this species are

much smaller than those of A. ecklonis. The

leaves of this species are more conspicuously

very narrowly rectangular (linear) than most.

Vouchers: Codd 9525 (PRE); Gerstner 624

(PRE); Medley Wood 9254 (PRE); Obermeyer

208 (PRE); Reynolds 3980 (PRE).

18. Aloe integra Reynolds in The Flower-

ing Plants of South Africa 16: t. 607 (1936c);

Reynolds: 141 (1950); Jeppe: 131 (1969);

Bornman & D.S. Hardy: 35 (1972); Compton:

100 (1976); B.-E. van Wyk & G.F.Sm.: 268

(1996). Type: Mpumalanga, Lydenburg District,

Reynolds 1650 (PRE, holo.!; BOL!).

Stemless grass aloe 350-500 mm tall, soli-

tary; roots fusiform. Leaves 15-30 in a rosette,

lorate, 1 00— 200(— 500) x 20-50 mm, often with

a short or long dried apex adhering, slightly

canaliculate, margins cartilaginous, usually

entire, rarely ciliate. Inflorescence a dense,

cylindric-conical to capitate raceme; peduncle

350-700 mm long (including raceme), with

sterile bracts; bracts narrowly deltoid-acumi-

nate, 12-25 x 4-6 mm, 5-7-nerved, purplish.

Flowers lemon-yellow to canary-yellow, 13-27

mm long; segments free; pedicels 20-30 mm

long, lengthening in fruit to 30-40 mm. Anthers

exserted 1-3 mm. Ovary 5-7 x 2-3 mm, olive-

green; style exserted 2-5 mm. Fruit 12-15 x

6-8 mm, pale grey. Flowering time October to

December.

Found in Mpumalanga and Swaziland. A.

integra occurs in highveld grassland, usually on

sandy, stony soil. Flowering seems to be stimu-

lated by fire. Map 12.

The racemes of this species terminate in a

small tuft of purple bracts, unlike any other

species in this section. In general appearance

this species is closest to A. ecklonis (no. 19),

and when not in flower it may be distinguished

from that species by the shorter leaves, of which

the margins are entire or at most only minutely

denticulate.

The entire (without teeth) leaf margins of

this species are highlighted by the specific

ALOACEAE: Aloe

19

epithet ( integra meaning ‘entire, complete,

whole’).

Vouchers: Reynolds 1636 (PRE); Van der

Merwe 45 (PRE).

19. Aloe ecklonis Salm-Dyck , Monographia

generum Aloes et Mesembryanthemi: 21, t. 2

(1849); Baker: 158 (1880a); Baker: 309 (1896a);

A. Berger: 168 (1908); Pole Evans: t. 609

(1936b); Reynolds: 145 (1950); Jeppe: 121

(1969); Jacot Guillarmod: 140 (1971); Bornman

& D.S. Hardy: 39 (1972); B.-E. van Wyk &

G.F.Sm.: 260 (1996). Iconotype: Salm-Dyck,

Monographia generum Aloes et Mesembry-

anthemi: 21, t. 2 (1849).

A. kraussii Baker: 159 (1880a); Baker: 306 (1896a);

J.M.Wood: t. 292 (1902); A.Berger: 169 (1908); Pole

Evans; t. 635 (1936c); Reynolds: 143 (1950); Jeppe: 121

(1969); Bornman & D.S.Hardy: 37 (1972); B.-E. van Wyk

& G.F.Sm.: 272 (1996), non Schonland. Type: KwaZulu-

Natal. Buy of Natal, Krauss 275 (BM).

A. boylei Baker: 84 (1892a); Baker: 307 (1896a);

A.Berger: 170 (1908); Pole Evans: t. 634 (1936d);

Reynolds: 153 (1950); Jeppe: 122 (1969); Bornman &

D.S.Hardy: 45 (1972); Compton: 98 (1976); B.-E. van Wyk

& G.F.Sm.: 252 (1996). Type: KwaZulu-Natal, Tugela

Valley, Allison sub Boyle s.n. (K, holo.!; PRE, photo.!).

A. agrophila Reynolds: 70 (1936b). Type: Eastern Cape,

Mlengana, Reynolds 1749 (PRE!).

A. hlangapies Groenew.: 60 (1936c); Pole Evans: t. 710

(1938a); Reynolds: 137 (1950); Jeppe: 124 (1969); Born-

man & D.S.Hardy: 31 (1972); Compton: 99 (1976); Glen,

G.F.Sm. & D.S.Hardy: 98 (1995); B.-E. van Wyk &

G.F.Sm.: 264 (1996). Lectotype: Mpumalanga, Piet Retief

District, Van der Merwe 102 (PRE!).

A. boylei Baker subsp. major Hilliard & B.L.Burtt: 252

(1985). Type: KwaZulu-Natal, Ngome, Hilliard & Burtt

8438 (E, holo.; NU!; PRE, photo.!).

Erect, stemless or short-stemmed grass aloe

0.5-1 m tall, solitary or in groups; roots

fusiform. Leaves 8-20, distichous or in a

rosette, lorate to ensiform, 200^1-00 x 15-90

mm, canaliculate, blue-green to emerald-green,

margins cartilaginous, armed with firm minute

white deltoid teeth. Inflorescence a capitate

raceme; peduncle 300-560 mm long, with ster-

ile bracts; bracts narrowly deltoid-acuminate,

10-20 x 3-5 mm, 3-5-nerved. Flowers lemon-

yellow to red, ± 14-24 x 7 mm, mouth some-

times upturned; all segments free; pedicels

16-40 mm long, lengthening in fruit. Anthers

exserted 1-3 mm. Ovary 4-9 x 2-3 mm, green;

style exserted 2-5 mm. Fruit 18-35 x 6-13

mm, brown or grey. Flowering time November

to February.

Found in the Northern Province, Mpuma-

langa, Swaziland, the Free State, KwaZulu-

Natal, Lesotho and the Eastern Cape. A. ecklonis

usually occurs on very heavy soils which pack

hard on drying. The surrounding vegetation is

usually grassland, which may be dense or sparse,

dry or wet, at low or high altitude. Map 13.

Map 13. — Aloe ecklonis

20

ALOACEAE: Aloe

This is the most variable and, after A. myria-

cantlia (no. 3) and A. buettneri (no. 8), the most

widely distributed species in the section. Leaves

may be broad or narrow, rosulate or distichous,

glaucous blue-green or grass-green, with or

without spots at the base, and with large or small

marginal teeth. Flowers may be yellow, pink or

any shade between. All the extremes, which

have been described at specific or infraspecific

rank, are connected by intermediates, and by

modifying cultural conditions it is possible to

transform plants of one form into another.

Despite this great variability, A. ecklonis resem-

bles only one species, namely A. Integra (no.

18), at all closely. A. Integra has shiny leaves

with distinct lines, and the remains of leaves that

have died back are purple. A. ecklonis has duller

leaves without lines, which die back pale brown

to grey. Other characters separating these two

species are discussed under A. integra.

The epithet of one of the synonyms, A.

hlangapies , was changed illegitimately first to

A. hlangapitis (Groenewald 1936d) and then to

A. hlangapensis (Groenewald 1937a). Common

names recorded for this species include lekha-

lana, hloho tsa makaka and maroba-lihale

(seSotho), and isipnkntwane (Zulu) (Reynolds

1950). The specific epithet commemorates the

collector of the type specimen, C.F. Ecklon.

Ecklon was one of the first major collectors to

travel extensively in southern Africa, which he

did between 1823 and 1827, and again between

1829 and 1833. Gunn & Codd (1981) give

fuller biographical details of Ecklon. This

species is used in initiation and fertility rites in

Lesotho. The Zulu eat the inflorescence as a

vegetable, while the South Sotho use the plant

(particularly the leaves?) as a purgative and as a

charm ‘to turn enemy bullets to water’.

Vouchers: Acocks 18395 (PRE); Galpin 1254

(BOL, K, PRE); Jacot Guillarmod 5345 (PRE);

Prosser 1996 (PRE); Strey 6345 (NH, PRE).

20. Aloe micracantha Haw., Supplemen-

tum plantarum succulentarum 105 (1819);

Sims: t. 2272 (1821); Link & Otto: t. 40 (1825);

Salm-Dyck: 21, t. 1 ( 1 840); Baker: 159 (1880a);

Baker: 306 (1896a); A. Berger: 169 (1908);

Reynolds: 147 (1950); Jeppe: 126 (1969);

Bomman & D.S. Hardy: 41 (1972); G.F.Sm.: 55

(1993); Glen & G.F.Sm.: 37 (1995); B.-E. van

Wyk & G.F.Sm.: 276 (1996). Neotype: Burchell

4482 ( K!).

Stemless grass aloe 350-500 mm tall, soli-

tary; roots fusiform. Leaves 12-18 in a rosette,

lorate, 300-500 x 20^10 mm, acuminate, with

irregular white spots on both surfaces through-

out or only near expanded bases, margins carti-

laginous, dentate. Inflorescence a capitate raceme;

peduncle 250-500 mm long, with sterile bracts;

bracts ovate-acuminate, 22-27 x 5-7 mm,

many-nerved. Flowers salmon-pink, 26-38 mm

long; all segments free; pedicels 20-35 mm

long, lengthening to ± 50 mm in fruit. Anthers

not or hardly exserted. Ovary ±8x3 mm,

salmon-pink; style exserted 1-2 mm. Fruit ± 28

x 12 mm, grey. Seeds black, in a semitranspar-

ent white membranous sac forming wings, ±

6. 0-7.0 x 4.0 x 1.5 mm including wing.

Flowering time December to January.

Found in KwaZulu-Natal and the Eastern

Cape. This species occurs in well-drained, dry,

sandy or stony places, often wedged between

rocks. It is very difficult to maintain in cultiva-

tion. Map 14.

Characters that distinguish this species from

all others in the section include the copious

Map 14. — Aloe micracantha

ALOACEAE: Aloe

21

spots on both sides of the leaves, extending

almost to the leaf tips; the flowers, pedicels and

bracts which are all the same colour; and the

distribution range, which is the southwestern-

most in the group. The plant figured under this

name in The Flowering Plants of South Africa

3: t. Ill (1923) is not this species but rather A.

ecklonis (no. 19).

The specific epithet refers to the remarkably

small teeth on the leaves of this species.

Vouchers: L.L. Britten 1248 (GRA, PRE); I.L.

Drege 67 (PRE); Fourcade 2440 (BOL, PRE);

Long 279 (PRE); Reynolds 1757 (BOL, PRE).

21. Aloe cooperi Baker in The Gardeners’

Chronicle 1: 628 (1874); Baker: t. 6377 (1878a);

Baker: 305 (1896a); J.M.Wood & M.S.Evans:

t. 41 (1899); A. Berger: 167 (1908); Pole

Evans: t. 578 (1935a); Reynolds: 150 (1950);

Jeppe: 125 (1969); Bornman & D.S. Hardy: 43

(1972); Compton: 99 (1976); B.-E. van Wyk

& G.F.Sm.: 256 (1996). Type: KwaZulu-Natal,

no precise locality. Cooper s.n. (K!, holo.; PRE,

photo.!).

A. schmidtiana Regel: 97, 98, t. 970 (1879); Glen &

G.F.Sm.: 38 (1995). Lecto-iconotype: Gartenflora 1879: 97,

t. 970.

Apparently stemless grass aloe 0.6- 1.2 m

tall, solitary or in small groups. Leaves 16-20,

distichous, rarely spirally twisted to rosulate in

old specimens, 400-800 x 25-60 mm, distinct-

ly keeled, V-shaped in section, bright green,

undersurface white-spotted near base, margins

cartilaginous, dentate. Inflorescence a conical,

sublax raceme; peduncle 0.4-1 m long, with

sterile bracts; bracts ovate-acuminate, 13-33 x

6-8 mm, many-nerved. Flowers salmon-pink to

blood-red, 25-40 mm long; all segments free;

pedicels 30-60 mm long, lengthening in fruit.

Anthers not or hardly exserted. Ovary ±5x2

mm; style exserted 3-5 mm. Fruit 33^-0 x

12-13 mm, grey.

This is the only species of Aloe which regu-

larly occurs in marshy places from the Northern

Province to KwaZulu-Natal. It also grows in

well drained places, often among rocks on hill-

sides.

Aloe cooperi is distinguished from all other

species of the genus in southern Africa by its

distinctly keeled leaves which are V-shaped in

section.

Two subspecies are recognised:

Leaf margins dentate throughout

21a. subsp. cooperi

Leaf margins entire in upper three quar-

ters, dentate below . . 21b. subsp. pulchra

21a. subsp. cooperi.

Description as for the species. Flowering

time January to March.

Found in the Northern Province, Mpuma-

langa, Swaziland and KwaZulu-Natal, includ-

ing one locality on the Free State border. In

northern KwaZulu-Natal, where this subspecies

is sympatric with subsp. pulchra, it grows in

drier places at higher altitudes than subsp. pul-

chra. Map 15.

The specific epithet honours Mr T. Cooper, a

nurseryman of Reigate, Surrey, England, who

collected in the Eastern Cape and KwaZulu-

Map 15. — Aloe cooperi subsp. cooperi

22

ALOACEAE: Aloe

Natal in about 1860. He discovered several new

species, of which the type specimens are housed

at Kew. He was the father-in-law of N.E. Brown,

without whose works students of succulent

plants would be infinitely poorer. Zulu common

names for this species are isipukutwane and

isiputumahe (Reynolds 1950). The burned leaves

of this species are used in Zulu magic. The inflo-

rescence is cooked and eaten as a vegetable.

Vouchers: Acocks 10063 (NH, PRE); Comp-

ton 29001 (PRE); Hardy 3958 (PRE); Reynolds

3447 (PRE); Strey 3665 (PRE).

21b. subsp. pulchra Glen & D.S. Hardy in

The Flowering Plants of Africa 49: t. 1944

(1987b). Type: KwaZulu-Natal, Palm Ridge,

Harrison 980 (PRE!).

Leaves always distichous, with margins den-

tate only in basal quarter, entire above; lower

surface with white tubercles each bearing a hair-

like process near base. Bracts clasping pedicels.

Flowers slightly longer than in subsp. cooperi,

35^-5 mm long, deep to pale pink. Flowering

time April to May. Other characters as in subsp.

cooperi.

Occurs in KwaZulu-Natal with outliers in

Swaziland, in rough grassland and thorny forest

margins, often in association with Erythrina

latissima. Map 16.

Map 16. — Aloe cooperi subsp. pulchra

Plants of this subspecies are strikingly beau-

tiful when in flower, and so the subspecies is

named accordingly. It occurs at lower altitude,

in moister places than subsp. cooperi where the

two are sympatric.

Vouchers: Culverwell 598 (PRE); Harrison

506 (PRE); Hitchins 32 (NPB, PRE), Let lev

HI 5 (NPB, PRE); C.J. Ward 2344 (PRE).

22. Aloe bowiea Roem. & Schult.f, Systema

vegetabilium 7: 704 ( 1 829); Baker: 158(1 880a);

Baker: 309 (1896a); Oberm.: 119 (1973);

D.S. Hardy: 518 (1974); G.F.Sm.: 10 (1983);

G.F.Sm.: 80 (1990a); G.F.Sm.: 303 (1990b);

G.F.Sm.: 415 (1990c); G.F.Sm.: 9 (1991);

G.F.Sm. & A.E. van Wyk: 93 (1993); G.F.Sm.

et al.\ 80, t. 2096 (1994); B.-E. van Wyk &

G.F.Sm.: 238 (1996). Iconotype: Duncanson,

unpublished plate at K.

Bowiea africarta Haw.: 299 (1824). Chamaealoe

africana (Haw.) A. Berger: 120 (1908). Type as above.

Stemless grass aloe 75-100 mm tall, usually

in large groups. Leaves many in a rosette, linear,

70-125 x 4-15 mm, channelled, expanded at

base, undersurface with white spots, margins

dentate. Inflorescence a dense, cylindric raceme;

peduncle 150-400 mm long, with sterile bracts;

bracts narrowly deltoid-acuminate, ± 3-6 x 2

mm, 3-nerved. Flowers sessile, greenish white,

8-10 mm long, mouth expanded; all segments

free. Anthers not or hardly exserted. Ovary ±

2-3 x 1 mm; style exserted 2-3 mm. Fruit not

seen. Flowering time March to April.

Endemic to the Eastern Cape. A. bowiea

occurs in soil varying from sandy loam to heavy

clay, among grasses, succulents and stones in val-

ley bushveld (Smith & Van Wyk 1990). Map 17.

The leaves of this species are similar in form

to those of A. chortolirioides (no. 9), but differ

in size from that species. Plants of this species

are single-headed, whereas A. chortolirioides is

characterised by vast, multiheaded clumps. The

flower recalls A. saundersiae (no. 1), A. albida

(no. 2) and A. inconspicua (no. 7) in its small

ALOACEAE: Aloe

23

Map 17. — Aloe bowiea

size and greenish white colour. It differs from

all of these in that the anthers and style are

exserted ± 2 mm, whereas in most members of

this section, the anthers and style are included,

as long as the perianth or hardly exserted.

This species is named after James Bowie, its

discoverer, who collected plants at the Cape from

1816-1823 and sent a living plant to Kew, where

it was figured by Duncanson and described by

Haworth. Smith (1983) states that some popula-

tions of this species are eaten by stock.

Vouchers: Hall 1612 (NBG); Hardy 2184

(PRE); Reynolds 1206 (PRE); Schonland s.n.

(BOL, GRA).

2. Section Haemanthifoliae

Section Haemanthifoliae (A. Berger) Glen & D.S. Hardy, stat. nov. Type species: A. haemanthifolia

A. Berger & Marloth.

Series Haemanthifoliae A. Berger in Das Pflanzenreich 33: 173 (1908); Reynolds: 155 (1950).

Plants stemless, 400-700 mm tall, usually in groups, rarely solitary. Leaves distichous, broadly

lorate, 180-210 x 42-100 mm, apices rounded, fibrous, dull green, margins entire. Inflorescence a

simple capitate raceme; peduncle 300^-50 mm long, with sterile bracts; bracts lanceolate-acumi-

nate, 1 1-25 x 4-7 mm, 3-7-nerved. Flowers orange-red or scarlet, 23-38 mm long, cylindric; inner

and outer segments free; pedicels ± 25 mm long, extending to 40-55 mm in fruit. Anthers and style

included. Ovary ±8x3 mm, tapering into style. Fruit dark grey, with transverse ribs, ± 25 x 14

mm. Seeds dark grey, with narrow wings, ± 5.0 x 4.0 x 2.5 mm. Flowering time October.

23. Aloe haemanthifolia A. Berger <£

Marloth, A. Berger in Botanische Jahrbiicher 38:

85 (1905b); A.Berger: 173 (1908); V.Higgins:

273 (1944); Reynolds: 155 (1950); Jeppe: 66

(1969); Bornman & D.S. Hardy: 47 (1972);

Glen & C.Craib: t. 2063 (1993); B.-E. van Wyk

& G.F.Sm.: 140 (1996). Type: Western Cape,

Franschhoek Mountains, Marloth 3786 (BOL,

holo.!; GRA!, PRE!).

Description as for section. Figure 2.

Endemic to the Western Cape. A. haemanthi-

folia occurs on Table Mountain sandstone cliffs

in the Cape folded mountains, in very wet places.

Map 18. — Aloe haemanthifolia

Figure 2. — Section Haemanthifoliae. Aloe haemanthifolia: 1, inflorescence, x 0.9; 2, habit, x 0.7. Taken from Glen

& Craib (1993).

ALOACEAE: Aloe

25

One population is in the spray of a waterfall.

The surrounding vegetation is fynbos. In sum-

mer these mountains are not warm, and in win-

ter the habitat of this species is above the snow

line. Map 18.

This is one of two species of Aloe (the other

being A. fibrosa from Kenya) to have distinct

fibres in the leaves. Its large, distichous, leath-

ery, linear, obtuse leaves, stemless habit and

capitate racemes of flowers with long perianths

and included anthers and styles distinguish this

species from all others in the genus.

Evidently the leaves of this species reminded

Marloth and Berger of those of a Haemanthus

(a well-known genus of bulbous plants).

Vouchers: Compton 17507 (NBG); Ester-

huysen 29668 (BOL, PRE); Leighton 1365

(BOL); Phillips 1347 (SAM); Van Jaarsveld

2719 (NBG).

3. Section Longistylae

Section Longistylae (A. Berger) Glen & D.S. Hardy, stat. nov. Type species: A. longistyla Baker.

Series Longistylae A. Berger in Botanische Jahrbiicher 36: 49 ( 1905a); A. Berger: 174 (1908): Reynolds: 158 (1950).

Plants stemless. Leaves rosulate, lanceolate, variously dentate. Inflorescence a simple, densely

flowered, cylindric to conical raceme; peduncle with many sterile bracts; pedicels short to 0 except

in A. chlorantlm. Flowers red, yellow or green, with straight or upturned mouth. Anthers much

exserted. Style much exserted.

la Leaves with surface prickles:

2a Leaves shorter than 160 mm; surface prickles randomly arranged 24. A. longistyla

2b Leaves longer than 160 mm; surface prickles in median line 25. A. peglerae

lb Leaves without surface prickles:

3a Pedicels shorter than 10 mm; flowers yellow 26. A. broomii

3b Pedicels longer than 10 mm; flowers green 27. A. chlorantha

These stemless species inhabit some of the coldest parts of southern Africa. The group as a

whole may be recognised by the absence of erect stems, the simple inflorescences with dense, ses-

sile to shortly pedicellate tubular flowers and long-exserted anthers and styles.

24. Aloe longistyla Baker in Journal of the

Linnean Society of London, Botany 18: 158

(1880a); Baker: 309 (1896a); A.Berger: 174

(1908); Pole Evans: t. 315 (1928a); Reynolds:

159 (1950); Jeppe: 35 (1969); Bornman &

D.S. Hardy: 49 (1972); Glen & G.L.Sm.: 38

(1995); B.-E. van Wyk & G.L.Sm.: 244 (1996).

Type: Eastern Cape, Graaff-Reinet, Bolus 689

(K, lecto.!; PRE, photo.!).

Plants 150-250 mm tall, in groups. Leaves

20-30, biconvex, 60-150 x 20-40 mm, glaucous

blue-green, both surfaces with white prickles.

margins dentate. Inflorescence a dense, capitate,

conical raceme; peduncle 150-270 mm long;

bracts ovate-deltoid, acuminate, 19-30 x 7-15

mm, slightly fleshy, 7-many-nerved. Flowers ses-

sile or on pedicels up to 8 mm long, salmon-pink

to flame-red, 35-55 mm long, mouth upturned;

outer segments connate for three quarters of their

length, inner segments free but dorsally adnate to

outer. Anthers exserted 5-20 mm. Ovary ± 7-10 x

4 mm, green; style exserted 16-25 mm. Fruit ±50

x 30 mm, green to grey. Seeds charcoal-grey, ±

12.0 x 13.0 x 0.8 mm, including buff wing 5-6

mm wide. Flowering time July to September.

26

ALOACEAE: Aloe

Figure 3. — Section Longistylae. Aloe peglerae: 1, upper portion of leaf; 2, flower. 3, median longitudinal section ot

flower; 4, leaf, x 0.8; 5, inflorescence, x 0.8 ; 6. habit, much reduced. Taken from Pole Evans (1924c).

ALOACEAE: Aloe

27

Map 19. — • Aloe longistyla

★ A. peglerae

A A. chlorantha

Endemic to the Western and Eastern Cape.

This species grows on clay soils in the karoo. It

may be found on bare soil, but is more often

protected by small karoo bushes (species of

Pentzici and similar genera). Map 19.

The specimen Bolus 689 is chosen as a lec-

totype rather than Drege 8640 because of its

more detailed locality. Aloe longistyla has the

longest styles in the genus. They may be as long

as 75 mm when fully exserted. Schonland

(quoted by Reynolds 1950) states that in the

flowers of this species the stigmas are receptive

before the pollen is shed. This would be unusu-

al, as in most species of Aloe pollen is shed in

the early morning, stigmas reaching maximum

sensitivity about or shortly after noon on the

same day. The stemless clumped habit, stout

unbranched peduncles and long, upturned flow-

ers distinguish this species from all others in the

genus.

The specific epithet draws attention to the

long styles, which are a characteristic feature of

the flowers of this species.

Vouchers: Dyer 4024 (PRE, SAM. UPS);

MacOwan 2230B (BM); Marloth 5134 (PRE);

Reynolds 5490 (BOL, NH. PRE); Rogers 30230

(K).

25. Aloe peglerae Schonland in Records of

the Albany Museum 1: 120(1904); A. Berger: 174

(1908); Pole Evans: t. 149 (1924c); Reynolds:

160 (1950); Jeppe: 5 (1969); Bornman &

D.S. Hardy: 5 1 (1972); B.-E. van Wyk & G.F.Sm.:

150 (1996). Type: North-West, Rustenburg,

Pegler 921 (BOL, holo.!; GRA!, PRE!, SAM!).

Plants solitary, 350-450 mm tall. Leaves ±

30, arcuate-incurved, 175-250 x 50-70 mm,

greyish, undersurface with a median line of

prickles near apex, margins dentate. Inflores-

cence a dense, cylindric raceme; peduncle

300^100 mm long; bracts ovate-acuminate,

12-16 x 6-7 mm, 3-7-nerved. Flowers magen-

ta-red in bud, greenish cream when open, 25-30

mm long, cylindric, mouth very slightly

upturned; all segments free. Anthers exserted

7-25 mm, purple. Ovary + 6x3 mm, green;

style exserted 15-20 mm, pale brown. Fruit not

seen. Flowering time July to August. Figure 3.

Endemic to North-West and Gauteng. Aloe

peglerae formerly occurred in large numbers on

stone pavements on the Witwatersrand, but has

largely been exterminated by urban develop-

ment and collectors. Where it still occurs, it is

found in places with almost no soil; most of such

little soil as there is, is humus formed by the

decay of old leaves of this plant. The surround-

ing vegetation is scanty grassland. Map 19.

This species is similar to A. broomii (no. 26)

and A. chlorantha (no. 27) in its solitary habit

and incurved leaves. Unlike these two species,

in which the leaves are yellow-green, the leaves

of A. peglerae are glaucous blue. It is smaller

than these in all parts except the flower. The

leaves have a median line of prickles on the

lower surface near the apex, and the brilliant red

flowers and small bracts of this species contrast

with the dull brownish or greenish flowers, half

hidden by the bracts, in the other two species

mentioned.

Most of Alice Pegler’s collections are from

the Kentani district of Transkei, but a few, such

as the type of this species named after her, are

from near Rustenburg in North-West.

28

ALOACEAE: Aloe

Vouchers: Burtt Davy 10428 (K); Marloth

5975 (PRE); Reynolds 2877 (PRE); C.A. Smith

6270 (PRE); Young 3020 (PRE).

26. Aloe broomii Schonland in Records of

the Albany Museum 2: 137 (1907); A. Berger:

329 (1908); Pole Evans: t. 605 (1936e); Rey-

nolds: 162 (1950); Jeppe: 54 (1969); Bornman

& D.S. Hardy: 53 (1972); B.-E. van Wyk &

G.F.Sm.: 124 (1996). Type: Eastern Cape, Pam-

poenpoort. Broom s.n. (GRA!).

Plants usually solitary, 0.5-1 m tall exclud-

ing inflorescence. Leaves many in a rosette,

erect to spreading, 200-400 x 55-105 mm,

upper surface flat, lower surface convex, green

to yellow-green, rarely with a median line of

prickles in apical third, margins dentate. In-

florescence a cylindric raceme; peduncle

0.75-1.5 m long; bracts spathulate, 21-30 x

11-15 mm, many-nerved. Flowers lemon-yel-

low, 20-25 mm long, mouth slightly upturned;

all segments free; pedicels 0 or up to 2 mm

long. Anthers exserted 2-12 mm. Ovary lemon-

yellow, 4-5 x 2-3 mm; style exserted 11-15

mm. Fruit not seen.

Two varieties are recognised:

Buds hidden by enclosing bracts

26a. var. broomii

Buds not hidden by bracts . . 26b. var. tarkaensis

2.6a. var. broomii.

Description as for species. Flowering time in

spring, after main cold season (August to

October).

Found in the Northern Cape, Free State,

Lesotho and the Western and Eastern Cape.

Aloe broomii var. broomii occurs on ironstone

ridges in the coldest parts of the eastern karoo,

among grasses and karoo bushes. Map 20.

The long inflorescences of yellow to brown-

ish flowers on short pedicels distinguish this

Map 20. — Aloe broomii var. broomii

species from A. chlorantha (no. 27). Further

characters distinguishing between these two

species are found in the microscopical structure

of the leaves. As these characters are not readi-

ly observable, they are not discussed here.

Differences between this species and A. pegler-

ae (no. 25) are discussed under that species.

This species features in one of the very few

identifiable Bushman paintings of plants. Its Afri-

kaans common name is bergaalwyn (Reynolds

1950). The specific epithet honours its discov-

erer, Dr Robert Broom, the palaeo-anthropolo-

gist. It is reported that A. broomii is used in the

following manner to remove ticks from horses:

the affected horse is given two tablespoons of

leaf sap, whereupon its blood becomes so bitter

that the ticks fall off. Reynolds, in a note in the

PRE archives, records an experiment to test this

remedy on sheep. It was found that the effect

was of very short duration (± 15 minutes), and

so the ticks fell into the sheep’s wool and soon

reattached themselves to the animal.

Vouchers: Acocks 16431 (PRE); Dieterlen

1150 (PRE, SAM); Henrici 265 (PRE); Muller

1019 (PRE); Reynolds 1612 (PRE, SAM).

Hybrids:

1. A. broomii var. broomii x A. grandidenta-

ta (no. 58). Voucher: Muller 1022 (PRE).

ALOACEAE: Aloe

29

2. A. broomii var. broomii x A. claviflora

(no. 70). Voucher: Wilman 13324 (PRE).

3. A. broomii var. broomii x A. hereroensis

var. hereroensis (no. 76a). Voucher: Reynolds

4612 (PRE).

4. A. broomii var. broomii x A. ferox (no.

1 10). Voucher: Reynolds 1615 (BM, PRE).

26b. var. tarkaensis Reynolds in Journal of

South African Botany 2: 72 (1936b); Reynolds:

165 (1950); Jeppe: 54 (1969); Bornman &

D.S. Hardy: 53 (1972). Type; Eastern Cape.

Tarkastad, Reynolds 1777 (PRE. holo.!; SAM!).

Leaves larger, up to 500 x 150 mm or more.

Flowers longer, 20-30 mm long; style exserted

15-20 mm; pedicels longer, 3-4 mm; bracts

lanceolate, ±12x5 mm. Other characters as for

species.

Found on low, stony ridges in the Northern

and Eastern Cape, rarely on grassy flats. Map 21 .

This variety flowers in late summer to

autumn (February to March). In this variety the

bracts are much smaller than in the typical vari-

ety. It seems that these differences are connect-

ed in the following manner: in var. tarkaensis ,

the seeds are ripened before the coldest part of

winter, rendering large protective bracts unnec-

essary, whereas in the typical variety the inflo-

rescence overwinters as a bud, and the large

bracts perform some function in protecting the

unopened flowers from the intense cold of the

winter months in the natural range of this

species.

The varietal epithet indicates that the plants

grow not far from Tarkastad, in the Eastern

Cape. Tarkastad takes its name from the nearby

Tarka River. Tarka is a Khoi word which may

be translated as ‘River of Women’.

Vouchers: Glen 1581 (PRE); Reynolds 1776

(PRE); Story 2493 (PRE).

27. Aloe chlorantha Lavranos in Journal

of South African Botany 39: 87 (1973a);

D.S. Hardy: 523 (1974) B.-E. van Wyk & G.F.Sm.:

124 (1996). Type: Northern Cape, Fraserburg

District, Lavranos 10024 (PRE, holo.!).

Plants usually in small groups, 0.5-1 m tall

excluding inflorescence. Leaves ± 30 in a

rosette, erect to arcuate-incurved. 25CM-00 x

50-80 mm, slightly biconvex, green to purplish,

lower surface often white-spotted, margins car-

tilaginous, dentate. Inflorescence a cylindric, sub-

dense raceme; peduncle 0.7-1. 6 m long; bracts

narrowly deltoid-acuminate, 12-20 x 4-8 mm,

many-nerved. Flowers yellow-green, 10-12 mm

long, cylindric; all segments free; pedicels

12-22 mm long. Anthers exserted 2-3 mm.

Ovary bright green, ± 3.0 x 1.5 mm; style

exserted 2-4 mm. Fruit not seen. Flowering

time September to November.

Aloe chlorantha is endemic to the southern

region of the Northern Cape and is restricted to

the tops of a few ridges in the upper karoo,

where it is commonly wedged between dolerite

boulders. Map 19.

The small greenish (not yellow to brown)

flowers on long pedicels distinguish this species

from A. broomii (no. 26). In addition, the

raceme in this species is much shorter in rela-

tion to the peduncle than in A. broomii.

30

ALOACEAE: Aloe

Figure 4. — Section Aristatae. Aloe aristata: I , habit; 2, leaf; 3, flowers from bud to anthesis, x 0.9; 4, fruit, x 0.9.

Taken from Jeppe (1969).

ALOACEAE: Aloe

31

Characters distinguishing between this species

and A. peglerae (no. 25) are discussed under

that species.

The specific epithet is a combination of two

Greek words meaning ‘green flowers’. Lavranos

(1973a) reports in the first description that the

inflorescences are eaten by dassies ( Procavia

capensis). This may explain the almost total

absence of young plants in the field.

Voucher: Lavranos 10024 (PRE).

4. Section Aristatae

Section Aristatae (A. Berger) Glen & D.S. Hardy, stat. nov. Type species: A. aristata Haw.

Series Aristatae A. Berger in Botanische Jahrbiicher 36: 46 (1905a); A. Berger: 175 (1908); Reynolds: 169 (1950).

Plants stemless, ± 100 mm tall excluding inflorescence, usually in dense clusters. Leaves

100-150 in a rosette, lanceolate, arcuate-incurved, 50-110 x 10-17 mm, greyish green to blue-

green, with white subtuberculate to subspinescent spots on both surfaces, those on lower surface

sometimes forming transverse bands, lower surface with soft prickles in median rows, margins with

soft white teeth, apices apiculate. Inflorescence 300-500 mm high, usually 2-6-branched; pedun-

cles without sterile bracts; floral bracts narrowly deltoid-acuminate, ±12x3 mm, obscurely ± 5-

nerved. Flowers brownish orange above, much paler below, 3CM0 mm long, arcuate-nutant at

anthesis, slightly constricted above ovary; outer segments connate for most of their length, inner

segments adnate to outer; pedicels 21-35 mm long. Anthers not or hardly exserted. Ovary 6. 0-8.0

x 1.0-2. 5 mm, olive-green; style exserted 1-2 mm. Fruit 25-30 x 8-10 mm, grey to greenish

brown. Seeds grey, ± 6.0 x 3.0 x 1.5 mm, narrowly winged. Flowering time August to October.

28. Aloe aristata Haw. in The Philosoph-

ical Magazine 66: 280 (1825); Baker: 306

( 1896a); A. Berger: 176 (1908); Reynolds: 169

(1950); Jeppe: 15 ( 1969); Bomman & D.S. Hardy:

55 (1972); Glen & G.F.Sm.: 38 (1995). Neo-

type: Northern Cape, near Steynsburg, Reynolds

1024 (PRE!).

A. longiaristata Schult. & Schult.f.: 684 (1829); Suim-

Dyck: 15, t. 7 (1837); Glen & G.F.Sm.: 38 (1995). Neotype:

Salm-Dyck, Monographia generum Aloes et Mesem-

bryanthemi 15: t. 7 ( 1837).

A. aristata Haw. var. leiophylla Baker: 156 (1880a);

Baker: 307 (1896a); A. Berger: 176 (1908). Type: Cape, no

precise locality. Cooper s.n. (Kl).

A. aristata Haw. var. parviflora Baker: 307 (1896a);

A. Berger: 177 ( 1908). Type: South Africa, no precise local-

ity, Cooper s.n. (K! ).

A. ellenbergii Guillaumin: 119 (1934). Type: Lesotho, no

precise locality. Ellenberg sub Baltzerf27 (P).

Description as for section. Figure 4.

Found in the Free State, KwaZulu-Natal,

Fesotho and the Western and Eastern Cape.

Aloe aristata occurs in a wide variety of habi-

tats, including sandy soil in hot, dry karoo

areas, deep shade on humus-rich soil in riverine

forest and grassland on high mountains in

Fesotho. In dry karroid areas the leaves are

greyish, erect, longer and narrower than usual,

with more pronounced tubercles. In grassland in

wetter areas the leaves are bright green, broad-

er than usual and spreading, sometimes even

slightly reflexed in very damp shade. Map 22.

Many characters make this species quite

unmistakable for any other in the genus. The

dry awn-tipped leaf apices and leaf tubercles are

unique among southern African species of Aloe.

Outside the FSA region, they are found only in

A. haworthioides, a Madagascan species. The

long, downward-curved flowers with slight

basal swellings are unique in the genus, and this

species, more than any other, has a tendency

32

ALOACEAE: Aloe

Map 22. — Aloe aristata

towards flowers and pedicels that are darker in

colour above (where they receive direct sun-

light) than below (where they are in their own

shadow).

The specific epithet refers to the awn-tipped

leaves which are very characteristic of this

species. Its seSotho common name is serelei

(Reynolds 1950). In Lesotho it is used in fertil-

ity rites.

Vouchers: Davidson 3048 (J, PRE); Gerstner

52 (PRE); Killick 1631 (BOL, NIL PRE);

Reynolds 2180 (PRE, SAM); Trauseld 441

(NU, PRE).

5. Section Echinatae

Section Echinatae Salm-Dyck , Monographia generum Aloes et Mesembryanthemi: 15 (1837).

Type species: A. humilis (L.) Mill.

Series Echinatae Salm-Dyck, Reynolds: 173 (1950).

Plants stemless or with short prostrate stems. Leaves rosulate, narrow, lanceolate to almost semi-

terete, variously dentate. Inflorescence a simple cylindric-conical, lax to dense raceme; peduncle

with many sterile bracts. Flowers cylindric; perianth segments usually free or almost free; anthers

and style not or hardly exserted.

la Leaves without surface prickles:

2a Leaves spotted on both surfaces; indigenous to Eastern Cape 31. A. pictifolia

2b Leaves unspotted; indigenous to Namaqualand 30. A. krapohliana

lb Leaves with surface prickles:

3a Plants up to 150 mm tall; leaves with random surface prickles 29. A. humilis

3b Plants taller than 200 mm; leaves with few surface prickles in median line:

4a Flowers incurved, ± cylindric; dry leaf sap golden 32. A. melanacantha

4b Flowers straight or with upcurved mouth, subventricose; dry leaf sap lemon-yellow . . .

33. A. erinacea

The species of this group all have narrow, almost subulate leaves and simple inflorescences. The

flowers are on relatively long pedicels subtended by long, cuspidate bracts. In three species the

leaves have surface prickles, and in the other two they are not thus armed.

29. Aloe humilis (L.) Mill., The abridgement

of The gardener’s dictionary: no. 10 (1771);

Thunb.: 61 (1794); DC.: t. 39 (1800); Haw.: 15

(1804); W.T.Aiton: 294 (1811); Haw.: 85

(1812); Thunb.: 311 ( 1823); Salm-Dyck: 15, t. 1

(1837); Lodd.: t. 1481 (1828); Baker: 307

(1896a); A. Berger: 180 (1908); R. A. Dyer: t.

439 (1931a); Reynolds: 173 (1950); Jeppe: 14

(1969); Bomman & D.S.Hardy: 57 (1972); B.-

E. van Wyk & G.F.Sm.: 242 (1996). Iconotype:

Aloe africana humilis spinis inermibus & verru-

cosis obsita C.Commelijn, Horti medici Amstel-

ALOACEAE: Aloe

33

aedamensis plantae rariores et exoticae: 46, t. 46

(1706).

A. perfoliata L. o humilis L.: 320 (1753); Aiton: 467

(1789).

A. verrucosospinosa All.: 13 (1773); All.: 65

(1774-1776). Iconotype: Aloe africana humilis spinis iner-

mibus & verrucis obsita C.Commelijn, Praeludia botanica:

77 (1703).

Catevala humilis (L.) Medik.: 69 ( 1786). Type: not cited.

A. perfoliata L. p suberecta Aiton: 467 (1789). Type: not

cited.

A. humilis (L.) Mill. var. incurva Haw.: 15 (1804); Ker

Gawl.: t. 828 (1805); Baker: 308 (1896a); A.Berger: 182

(1908); Reynolds: 177 (1950); Glen & G.F.Sm.: 39 (1995).

Lecto-iconotype: Curtis’s Botanical Magazine 21: t. 828

(1805).

A. suberecta (Aiton) Haw.: 16 (1804); Haw.: 84 ( 1812). A.

humilis (L.) Mill. var. suberecta (Aiton) Baker: 308

(1896a); A.Berger: 181 (1908); Reynolds: 178 (1950).

Type: not cited.

A. tuberculata Haw.: 16 (1804); Haw.: 84 (1812). Type:

not cited.

A. echinata Willd.: 385 (1809); Salm-Dyck: 15, t. 2

(1837). Type: not cited.

A. acuminata Haw.: 84 (1812). A. humilis (L.) Mill. var.

acuminata (Haw.) Baker: 157 ( 1880a); Baker: 308 ( 1896a);

A.Berger: 182 (1908); Reynolds: 178 (1950). Iconotype:

Curtis’s Botanical Magazine 20: t. 727 (1804).

A. incurva (Haw.) Haw.: 85 ( 1812); Lodd.: t. 1829 (1829);

Salm-Dyck: 15, t. 3 ( 1837). Type: not cited.

A. suberecta (Aiton) Haw. var. semiguttata Haw.: 41

(1821); A.Berger: 181 (1908). Type: not cited.

A. subtuberculata Haw.: 280 (1825). A. humilis (L.) Mill,

var. subtuberculata (Haw.) Baker: 308 (1896a); A.Berger:

182 (1908); Reynolds: 179 (1950). Type: not cited.

A. echinata Willd. var. minor Salm-Dyck: 15, t. 2 (1837);

Kunth: 516 (1843). Type: not cited.

A. humilis (L.) Mill. var. candollei Baker: 157 (1880a);

Baker: 308 (1896a). Iconotype: DC.: t. 39 (1800).

A. humilis (L.) Mill. var. echinata (Willd.) Baker: 308

(1896a); A.Berger: 182 (1908); Reynolds: 178 (1950).

Type: Hort. Berlin, Willdenow 6776 (B-W, holo.; PRE,

microfiche!).

A. humilis (L.) Mill. var. incurva Haw. subvar. minor

(Salm-Dyck) A.Berger: 183 (1908). Type: not cited.

Plants stemless, 75-150 mm tall, in dense

groups. Leaves 20-30 in a rosette, narrowly

lanceolate to semiterete-acuminate, 50-100 x

8-20 mm, blue-green, upper surface with few

prickles, lower surface with many prickles,

margins dentate. Inflorescence a lax raceme;

peduncle 250^450 mm long; bracts lanceolate-

acuminate, 18-25 x 8-9 mm, many-nerved.

Flowers red to orange, 23^42 mm long; outer

segments connate for one third of their length,

inner segments dorsally adnate to the outer;

pedicels 20-30 mm long, lengthening to 40 mm

in fruit. Anthers not or hardly exserted. Ovary ±

7-8 x 2 mm; style exserted up to 2 mm. Fruit

18-38 x 8-13 mm, grey. Flowering time

September to December.

A. humilis occurs in the Northern, Western

and Eastern Cape, growing in clay soils in

Eastern Cape Succulent Veld (noorsveld).

Unlike most species in this section, A. humilis

forms many-headed clumps of plants with

small, almost awl-shaped leaves. The leaves

have surface prickles, but these are glaucous,

whitish or colourless and randomly arranged,

unlike those of A. melanacantha (no. 32) and A.

erinacea (no. 33), which are black and arranged

in one median line. Map 23.

The specific epithet means ‘humble' and refers

to the small stature of the plant.

34

ALOACEAE: Aloe

Vouchers: I.L. Drege 3042 (PRE); Gibbs

Russell 4317 (PRE); MacOwan 2230A (BM,

SAM), Reynolds 1029 (PRE); Rodin 1263

(BOL, K, MO, PRE).

Hybrid:

A. humilis x A. microstigma subsp. micro-

stigma (no. 92a). Voucher: R. du Plessis

NBG1081/32 (BOL).

30. Aloe krapohliana Marloth in Tran-

sactions of the Royal Society of South Africa 1 :

408 (1909); Pole Evans: t. 201 (1926a);

Reynolds: 179 (1950); Jeppe: 34 (1969);

Bomman & D.S. Hardy: 59 (1972); B.-E. van

Wyk & G.F.Sm.: 144 (1996). Type: Northern

Cape, near Pella, Krapohl in Marloth 4673

(PRE!).

A. krapohliana Marloth var. dumoulinii Lavranos: 41

(1973b); D.S. Hardy: 517 (1974). Type: Northern Cape,

Alexander Bay, Lavranos & Butler 8777 (PRE!).

Plants stemless or short-stemmed, 150-200

mm tall, solitary or rarely in small clumps.

Leaves 20-30, 100-200 x 20^10 mm, upper

surface flat, lower surface convex, glaucous

brownish green, margins with minute white

teeth or apparently unarmed. Inflorescence a

simple, rarely branched, dense raceme; pedun-

cle 300^100 mm long; bracts lanceolate-acumi-

nate, ± 14-16 x 5 mm, many-nerved. Flowers

scarlet, 23-35 mm long, mouth slightly

upturned; pedicels 15-20 mm long. Anthers

exserted 0-3 mm. Ovary ± 6.0 x 1.5-2. 5 mm,

pale green; style exserted up to 3 mm. Fruit

25-30 x 16-17 mm, grey. Flowering time June

to August.

Endemic to Namaqualand (Northern and

Western Cape), A. krapohliana occurs on clay,

stony (quartzite) and sandy soils in succulent

and nonsucculent karoo in the winter-rainfall

area. Plants on clay soils at high altitude are

much larger than those on sandy soils on the

coastal plain, while those on low-altitude stony

soils are intermediate in size. The flowering

season from June to August is unusual for an

aloe of the winter-rainfall area. Map 24.

Map 24. — • Aloe krapohliana

★ A. pictifolia

The usually solitary habit and unarmed,

unspotted leaves distinguish this species from

others in this section.

This species is named after Mr H.C.

Krapohl, the collector of the type specimen.

The specimen was grown to flowering in Mr

Krapohl’s garden in Cape Town.

Vouchers: Compton 20563 (NBG); Hall 883

(NBG); Hardy 99 (PRE); Marloth 6830 (PRE);

Reynolds 5456 (PRE).

Hybrids:

1. A. krapohliana x A. arenicola (no. 88).

Voucher: Hall 884 (NBG).

2. A. krapohliana x A. gariepensis (no. 93).

Voucher: S. W. van der Merw>e s.n. (PRE).

31. Aloe pictifolia D.S. Hardy in Bothalia

12: 62 (1976); B.-E. van Wyk & G.F.Sm.: 178

(1996). Type: Eastern Cape, near Patensie,

Marais PRE32328 (PRE!).

Plants short-stemmed, 200-300 mm tall, in

small, dense clumps. Leaves 16-40 in a rosette,

narrowly lanceolate, 120-175 x 10-25 mm,

blue-grey-green, with many white spots on both

surfaces, margins minutely dentate. Inflores-

cence a sublax raceme; peduncle 200-400 mm

long; bracts spathulate, obtuse, 6-10 x 2 -4 mm,

ALOACEAE: Aloe

35

7-nerved. Flowers scarlet, 15-18 mm long,

cylindric; pedicels 10-15 mm long. Anthers

exserted up to 2 mm. Ovary ± 2. 5-4.0 x 1 .5

mm; style exserted up to 2 mm. Fruit not seen.

Flowering time June.

Endemic to the Eastern Cape, A. pictifolia

occurs in Cape sourveld, in an area receiving rain

at any season, with a peak in summer. Map 24.

The copiously spotted leaves distinguish this

species from others in the section. Individual

heads resemble plants of A. krapohliana (no.

30), but that plant is solitary, not clumped, the

background colour of the leaves in A. pictifolia

is purplish glaucous, not brownish glaucous as

in A. krapohliana , and the ecological require-

ments of these two species are quite different.

The 'painted-leaved' aloe is named for the

white spots on the leaves.

Voucher: Marais PRE32328 (PRE).

32. Aloe melanacantha A. Berger in Botan-

ische Jahrbiicher 36: 63 (1905a); A. Berger: 217

(1908); Pole Evans: t. 433 (1931a); Reynolds:

181 (1950); Jeppe: 25 (1969); Bornman &

D.S. Hardy: 61 (1972); B.-E. van Wyk &

G.F.Sm.: 148 (1996). Type: Northern Cape,

near Garies, Drege 2697 (W).

Plants short-stemmed, 200-300 mm tall ex-

cluding inflorescence, usually solitary. Leaves

densely rosulate, narrowly lanceolate, 80-200 x

20-40 mm, upper surface flat, lower surface

convex, obscurely carinate towards apex, yel-

lowish to brownish green, keel with a row of

black or white prickles, margins with hard,

black or white, pungent teeth, apex with a hard,

black, pungent spine. Inflorescence a dense

raceme; peduncle 0.4-1 m long; bracts narrow-

ly lanceolate-acuminate, 25-35 x 5-8 mm, 3-5-

nerved. Flowers scarlet in bud, yellowish at

flowering, incurved, ± cylindric, 35-45 mm

long; pedicels 15-25 mm, lengthening in fruit.

Anthers exserted 3-5 mm. Ovary 6-7 x 2-3

mm, green; style exserted 4-7 mm. Fruit ± 28 x

12 mm, grey. Flowering time May to July.

Map 25. — • Aloe melanacantha

★ A. erinacea

Occurring in the Northern and Western Cape,

this species grows on rocky hillsides with little

soil, in succulent karoo with winter rainfall. The

record of A. melanacantha from Namibia quot-

ed by Solch, Roessler & Merxmiiller (1970: 17)

is based on a misidentification; the plant referred

to there is A. erinacea (no. 33). Map 25.

Aloe melanacantha is similar in appearance to

A. erinacea , but there are several characters that

may be used to distinguish them. In A. mela-

nacantha, plants are solitary and the leaf sap

dries a rich golden colour. The flowers are dis-

tinctly incurved, the leaves are dark green and

relatively flat, and plants flower freely both in

nature and cultivation. In A. erinacea , on the

other hand, plants usually sucker to form clumps,

and the leaf sap dries lemon-yellow. Rosettes are

more compact, leaves are shorter and more

biconvex, and the flowers are not incurved,

shorter and subventricose. Both in nature and

cultivation plants are rarely seen to flower.

The black teeth and prickles on the leaves

gave rise to the specific epithet, which is derived

from two Greek words meaning ‘black thorns’.

Vouchers: Hall 938 (NBG, PRE): Hardy 220

(PRE); Oliver, Tolken & Venter 237 (PRE);

Reynolds 2542 (PRE); Scldieben 9007 (BM,

MO, PRE, SRGH).

36

ALOACEAE: Aloe

Figure 5. — Section Echinatae. Aloe erinacea: 1, raceme, x 0.8; 2, mature leaf showing distinctive black marginal

teeth, x 0.8; 3. young leaf, x 0.8; 4, longitudinal section of flower, x 1.2. Taken from Hardy (1984).

ALOACEAE: Aloe

37

33. Aloe erinacea D.S. Hardy in Bothalia 10:

366 (197 1 ); Bornman & D.S. Hardy: 63 (1972);

D.S. Hardy: 518 (1974); Jankowitz: 24 (1975);

D.S. Hardy: t. 1885 (1984). Type: Namibia,

Witputs South, Hardy 2619 (PRE!).

Plants stemless, 200-300 mm tall, usually in

small compact clumps. Leaves densely rosulate,

deltoid-lanceolate, 80-160 x 30^-0 mm, bicon-

vex, grey-green or grey-blue, upper surface

often with black prickles, lower surface

obscurely keeled towards apex, keel with a row

of black prickles, margins armed with hard,

black, pungent teeth, apex with a hard, black

pungent spine. Inflorescence a subdense

raceme; peduncle up to 1 m long; bracts deltoid-

acute, 25.0-27.0 x 4.5 mm. Flowers crimson in

bud, yellowish orange at flowering, subventri-

cose, 25-30 mm long, mouth slightly upturned;

pedicels 18-20 mm long. Anthers exserted ± 4

mm. Ovary 5. 0-6.0 x 2. 0-2. 5 mm, greenish

brown; style exserted ± 7 mm. Fruit not seen.

Flowering time May to August. Figure 5.

Aloe erinacea is endemic to southern

Namibia and grows in pockets of sandy soil on

rocky outcrops in the part of the Namib Desert

with very low winter rainfall. It is most com-

mon in parts of the Sperrgebiet. Map 25.

Differences between this species and A.

melanacantha (no. 32) are dealt with above.

Erinaceus is a rare Latin word, apparently

used in classical times only by the elder Pliny,

for a hedgehog. The fortunes of the word

improved later, and it is now the generic name

of the European hedgehog. The allusion is to the

dense rosettes of spiny leaves.

Vouchers: Giess 12793 (PRE); Jankowitz

291 (PRE); Otzen PRE38606 (PRE); Rusch in

Dinter 8355 (K).

6. Section Proliferae

Section Proliferae Salm-Dyck , Monographia generum Aloes et Mesembryanthemi: 16 (1863).

Type species: A. brevifolia Mill.

Series Proliferae Salm-Dyck, A. Berger: 185 ( 1908); Reynolds: 183 ( 1950).

Plants stemless, 100-150 mm tall excluding inflorescence, suckering to form dense clumps.

Leaves 30-40 in a rosette, lanceolate-deltoid, 40-100 (120-150 in A. brevifolia var. depressa ) x

20-50 (-60 in A. brevifolia var. depressa) mm, blue-grey, upper surface flat to slightly convex, lower

surface convex with few soft prickles, margins dentate. Inflorescence a simple subdense, cylindric-

conical raceme; peduncle 400-500(-650) mm long, with sterile bracts; bracts ovate-acute, 13-16 x

5-7 mm, 5-inany-nerved. Flowers scarlet-pink, 25-40 mm long, cylindric-trigonous; all segments

free; pedicels 1 0— 1 5(— 20) mm long. Anthers exserted 1-4 mm. Ovary ± 5. 0-7.0 x 2.5 mm, green;

style exserted 5-10 mm. Fruit ± 1 8(— 23) x 7(-9) mm, grey. Flowering time October to December.

34. Aloe brevifolia Mill., The abridgement

of The gardener’s dictionary: no. 8 (1771); DC.:

t. 81 (1801); W.T.Aiton: 294 (1811); Haw.: 80

(1812); Lindl.: t. 996 (1826); Salm-Dyck: 16, t.

1 (1863); Baker: 310 (1896a); A. Berger: 185

(1908); Pole Evans: t. 604 (1936f); Reynolds:

183 (1950); Jeppe: 13 (1969); Bornman &

D.S. Hardy: 65 (1972); B.-E. van Wyk &

G.F.Sm.: 240 (1996). Lecto-iconotype: Aloe

africana caulescens foliis glands brevissimis,

foliorum summitate interna et externa nonnihil

spinosa C.Commelijn, Praeludia botanica: 73, t.

22 (1703), selected by Wijnands (1983).

A. peifoliata L. var. 8 L.: 320 (1753); Willd.: 183 (1799).

Iconotype: as above.

A. perfoliata L. var. ^ L.: 320 (1753): Willd.: 186 (1799).

Iconotype: C.Commelijn. Praeludia botanica: 72, t. 21 (1703).

A. prolifera Haw.: 16 (1804): W.T.Aiton: 294 (1811):

Schult. & Schult.t'.: 686 (1829); Kunth: 519 (1843). Lecto-

iconotype: C.Commelijn, Praeludia botanica: 73, t. 22

(1703), selected by Wijnands (1983).

38

ALOACEAE: Aloe

Figure 6. — Section Proliferae. Aloe brevifolia: 1. habit; 2, inflorescence; 3, median longitudinal section of flower x

1.5. Taken from Pole Evans (19360-

ALOACEAE: Aloe

39

A. prolifera Haw. var. major Salm-Dyck: 23 (1817);

Haw.: 44 (1819). Iconotype: C.Cominelijn, Praeludia botan-

ical 73, t. 22 ( 1703).

A. postgenita Schult. & Schult.f.: 714 (1829); Kunth: 519

(1843). A. brevifolia Mill. var. postgenita (Schult. &

Schult.f.) Baker: 160 (1880a); Baker: 310 (1896a);

A. Berger: 185 (1908); Reynolds: 187 (1950); Jeppe: 13

(1969); Bornman & D.S. Hardy: 65 (1972). Type: none cited.

Description as for section. Figure 6.

Aloe brevifolia occurs on heavy clay in the

winter-rainfall area of the Western Cape. The

surrounding vegetation is fynbos.

The dense clumps of rosettes of small deltoid

glaucous blue leaves with distinct teeth and car-

tilaginous surface prickles in median line distin-

guish this species from all others in southern

Africa.

The epithet brevifolia , meaning ‘short-leaved’,

is aptly descriptive of the typical variety of this

species.

Two varieties are recognised:

Leaves up to 100 mm long; plants usually

suckering 34a. var. brevifolia

Leaves longer than 100 mm; plants usually

solitary 34b. var. depressa

34a. var. brevifolia.

Description as for section.

Endemic to the Western Cape. Map 26.

Vouchers: Lang 6810 (PRE); Muir s.n. (K);

Reynolds 3253 (PRE); C.A. Smith 4951 (PRE).

34b. var. depressa {Haw.) Baker in Journal

of the Linnean Society of London, Botany 18:

160 (1880a); Baker: 310 (1896a); A.Berger: 186

(1908); Reynolds: 188 (1950); Jeppe: 13 (1969);

Bornman & D.S.Elardy: 65 (1972). Iconotype:

Aloe africana caulescens , folds glands brev-

ioribus caulem amplectentibus, foliorum parte

interna et externa nonnihil spinosa C.Commelijn,

Praeludia botanica: 72, t. 21 (1703).

Map 26. — Aloe brevifolia var. brevifolia

A. depressa Haw.: 16 (1804); W.T.Aiton: 294 (1811);

Haw.: 80 (1812); Salm-Dyck: 16, t. 3 (1854).

A. serra DC.: t. 80 (1801); Haw.: 44 (1819): Baker: 310

(1896a). A. brevifolia Mill. var. serra (DC.) A.Berger: 186

( 1908). Lecto-iconotype: C.Commelijn, Praeludia botanica:

72, t. 21 (1703).

Leaves 120-150 x up to 60 mm, sometimes

spotted in upper half. Peduncle up to 650 mm

long; pedicels up to 20 mm long. Fruit 20-23 x

7-9 mm, brown. Seeds ± 4.0 x 1 .5 x 1.0 mm,

charcoal-grey, not winged. Other characters as

in var. brevifolia.

Endemic to the Western Cape. Map 27.

Map 27. — Aloe brevifolia var. depressa

40

ALOACEAE: Aloe

This variety is characterised by much larger

leaves than the typical variety. Plants of this

variety do not form clumps as readily, and so

are more often found in the solitary state than

the typical variety.

leaves are relatively not as thick as those of var.

brevifolia.

Vouchers: Frames 13407 (PRE); Pillans

BOL18642 (BOL); Reynolds 2043 (PRE).

The meaning of the varietal epithet is ‘flat-

tened', apparently referring to the fact that the

7. Section Rhodacanthae

Section Rhodacanthae Salm-Dyck , Monographia generum Aloes et Mesembryanthemi: 17 (1837);

A. Berger: 187 (1908). Type species: A. glauca Mill.

Series Comosae A. Berger: 281 (1908): Reynolds: 386 (1950). Type species: A. comosa Marloth & A. Berger.

Series Rhodacanthae (Salm-Dyck) Reynolds: 190 (1950).

Plants stemless or caulescent, solitary or in dense groups. Leaves rosulate, deltoid, lanceolate or

tetrahedral, glaucous, lineate, margins dentate. Inflorescence usually a simple, initially subcapitate,

later elongate raceme; peduncle with sterile bracts; buds congested, overtopped by bracts at apex

of young raceme. Perianth segments usually free, not constricted at mouth. Anthers usually not or

shortly exserted. Style usually not or shortly exserted.

la Leaves up to 300 mm long, without longitudinal lines; plants stemless:

2a Leaves arranged in a distinctly 5-ranked spiral, without dorsal spines; inflorescence

branched 36. A. polyphylla

2b Leaves not in a 5-ranked spiral, with dorsal spines; inflorescence simple .... 35. A. pratensis

lb Leaves 300 mm long or more, with obscure to distinct pale longitudinal lines; plants

usually caulescent:

3a Stem short, shorter than 1 m, or absent; leaves ± 3 times as long as wide; bracts ovate-

deltoid 37. A. glauca

3b Stem (in adult plants) 1 m tall or taller; leaves ± 4 times as long as wide:

4a Inflorescence up to 1 .2 m tall; perianth segments free or almost so; bracts oblanceo-

late 38. A. lineata

4b Inflorescence taller than 1.5 m; perianth segments connate in basal third; bracts

lanceolate-acuminate 39. A. comosa

Species included in this section have leaves which are more or less obscurely lineate and with-

out spots. All except A. polyphylla have simple inflorescences; although A. polyphylla has a

branched inflorescence, it is very similar to A. pratensis and A. glauca in the disposition and struc-

ture of the flowers. A. comosa is so similar in habit and leaf characters to A. lineata that it is placed

in this section rather than on its own, as was done by Berger (1908).

35. Aloe pratensis Baker in Journal of the

Linnean Society of London, Botany 18: 156

( 1 880a); Baker: t. 6705 ( 1 883); Baker: 308 ( 1 896a);

A. Berger: 187 (1908); Pole Evans: t. 432 (1931b);

Reynolds: 191 (1950); Jeppe: 12 (1969); Bomman

& D.S. Hardy: 67 (1972); B.-E. van Wyk &

G.P.Sm.: 156 (1996). Type: Eastern Cape, Somerset

Division, MacOwan 1896 (K, holo.!; PRE, photo.!).

ALOACEAE: Aloe

41

Plants stemless, 150-250 mm tall excluding

inflorescence; usually in clumps. Leaves 30-40

per rosette, lanceolate to ovate-lanceolate,

1 00— 1 70(— 300) x 40-60 mm, upper surface flat

to slightly channelled, sometimes with few

prickles, lower surface convex with few prick-

les, sometimes obscurely keeled. Inflorescence

a simple raceme; peduncle 400-600 mm long;

bracts 35-65 x 8-18 mm, many-nerved.

Flowers rose-red, cylindric-trigonous, 30 — 40

mm long; pedicels 25—40 mm long, lengthening

to 50 mm in fruit. Anthers not or hardly exsert-

ed. Ovary 5. 0-8.0 x 1.0-2. 5 mm, green; style

exserted 1-3 mm. Fruit 24-37 x 7-11 mm,

grey. Seeds black, 4.5-5.0 x 3. 0-4.0 x 0.5-1. 0

mm, with a narrow wing. Flowering time

August to December.

Aloe pratensis occurs among rocks in mon-

tane grassland in some of the coldest parts of

the southern Drakensberg in KwaZulu-Natal

and the Eastern Cape. Map 28.

The leaf teeth and prickles, which arise from

white tubercular bases, set this species apart

from others in this section. Unlike A. polyphyl-

la (no. 36), plants of this species often form

clumps, but like that species they are stemless.

The peduncle is densely covered with sterile

bracts, unlike most other southern African

species of Aloe. A most unusual character of A.

Map 28. — • Aloe pratensis

★ A. polyphylla

A A. glauca

pratensis is the raceme, which elongates signif-

icantly as flowering progresses although the

length of the peduncle remains roughly con-

stant, so that the portion of the raceme with

unopened buds is capitate, but the portion with

open flowers and developing fruits is conical.

The specific epithet is obscure because it

indicates that this plant is to be found in mead-

ows, whereas in fact it is found in rocky places,

usually wedged between rocks. The seSotho

common name is lekhala qhalene (‘aloe that

opens out’ — Reynolds 1950).

Vouchers: Galpin 119 (PRE); Marais 940

(PRE); Reynolds 1580 (PRE, SAM); Trauseld

636 (NU, PRE); J.M. Wood 4574 (K, NH).

Hybrids:

1. A. pratensis x A. maculata (no. 45).

Vouchers: Becker GRAA7281 (GRA); Reynolds

140 (PRE).

2. A. pratensis x A. arborescens (no. 96).

Voucher: Smith 771 (PRE).

36. Aloe polyphylla Schonland ex Pillans

in South African Gardening and Country Life

24: 267 (1934a); Reynolds: 11 (1934); Pole

Evans: t. 571 (1935b); Reynolds: 194 (1950);

Jeppe: 11 (1969); Bornman & D.S. Hardy: 69

(1972); Talukdar: 985 (1983); B.-E. van Wyk &

G.F.Sm.: 154 (1996). Type: Lesotho, near

Maseru, Reynolds 934 (= BOL 21370) (BOL!).

Plants stemless, 300-500 mm tall, rosettes

600-800 mm in diameter, solitary or in groups.

Leaves ± 150 in a 5-ranked spiral, tetrahedral,

100-300 x 40-100 mm, emerald-green, mar-

gins cartilaginous, with white teeth.

Inflorescence 500-600 mm tall, 3-8-branched;

peduncles ± 250 mm long above branching

point; bracts ovate-acuminate, ± 29 x 7 mm, ±

5-nerved. Flowers pale salmon-pink to pale red,

37-55 mm long; pedicels 30-60 mm long.

Anthers exserted up to 5 mm. Ovary ±9x3

mm; style exserted up to 5 mm. Fruit not seen.

Flowering time September to October.

42

ALOACEAE: Aloe

Almost endemic to Lesotho (with one record

on the Free State border), A. polyphylla occurs

on steep, well-drained rocks high in the Maluti

Mountains, in areas of very high rainfall and

winter snow. Map 28.

The numerous leaves in a compressed 5-

ranked spiral and the cartilaginous keel with,

rarely, one or two prickles distinguish this

species from all others in the genus. Species of

Astroloba have 5-ranked leaves, but in that

genus the leaves are much smaller and less

numerous, and the axis is much longer relative

to the size of the leaves.

The name polyphylla is derived from two

Greek words meaning ‘many leaves’ — plants of

this species have large numbers of relatively

small leaves. The seSotho common name of this

species is lekhala kharatsa (‘coiled aloe’ —

Reynolds 1950).

Vouchers: Ashton 248 (PRE); Jacot Guillar-

mod 2982 (PRE); Reynolds 2625 (PRE, SAM);

Schmitz 6898 (PRE).

37. Aloe glauca Mill., The gardener’s dic-

tionary: no. 16 (1768); Willd.: 186 (1799);

W.T.Aiton: 295 (1811); Haw.: 79 (1812); Haw.:

40 (1821); Salm-Dyck: 17, t. 2 (1863); Baker:

534 (1897); A. Berger: 188 (1908); Reynolds:

197 (1950); Jeppe: 51 (1969); Bornman &

D.S. Hardy: 71 (1972); Glen & G.F.Sm.: 39

(1995); B.-E. van Wyk & G.F.Sm.: 136 (1996).

Neotype: Western Cape, hills south of Wyke,

Reynolds 1967 (PRE!).

A. perfoliata L. k L.: 320 (1753). Iconotype: Aloe

africana foliis glaucis, margine & dorsi parte superiore

spinosis, flore rubro C.Commelijn, Praeludia botanica: 75,

t. 24 (1703).

A. perfoliata L. C, glauca (Mill.) Aiton: 466 (1789).

A. rhodacantha DC.: t. 44 (1800); Haw.: 27 (1804); Ker

Gawl.: t. 1278 (1810a). Iconotype: DC., Historia plantarum

succulentarum: t. 44 (1800).

A. muricata Schult.: 70 (1809). A. glauca Mill. var. mitri-

cata (Schult.) Baker: 161 (1880a); Baker: 534 (1897);

A. Berger: 188 (1908); Reynolds: 201 (1950); Jeppe: 52

(1969); Bornman & D.S. Hardy: 71 (1972); Glen &

G.F.Sm.: 40 (1995). Neotype: Western Cape, Piketberg divi-

sion, De Hoek, Reynolds 4749 (PRE, holo.!; SAM!).

A. glauca Mill. var. major Haw.: 79 (1812). Lecto-icono-

type: C.Commelijn. Praeludia botanica: 75, t. 24 (1703).

A. glauca Mill. var. minor Haw.: 79 (1812). Lecto-icono-

type: Curtis’s Botanical Magazine 31: t. 1278 (1810).

A. glauca Mill. var. elatior Salm-Dyck: 24, 57 (1817).

Based on A. rhodacantha DC.

A. glauca Mill. var. humilior Salm-Dyck: 24, 57 (1817).

Based on A. glauca Mill.

A. glauca Mill. var. spinosior Haw.: 40 (1821). Type: not

cited.

Plants usually solitary, short-stemmed, 300-

600 mm tall excluding inflorescence. Leaves

30^40, lanceolate, 250-400 x 70-150 mm,

upper surface flat to slightly channelled, lower

surface convex, very glaucous with faint longi-

tudinal lines. Inflorescence a simple raceme;

peduncle 0. 5-1.0 m long; bracts ovate-deltoid,

acute, 27-40 x 8-15 mm, many-nerved.

Flowers deep pink, cylindric, 28-40 mm long;

pedicels 19-40 mm long. Anthers exserted 1-2

mm. Ovary 5-9 x 2-3 mm, green; style exsert-

ed up to 3 mm. Fruit not seen. Flowering time

mainly August to October.

Aloe glauca is endemic to the Northern and

Western Cape, where it usually occurs on clay

soils in mountain renosterveld, but it is also

known to occur in karoo vegetation around

Laingsburg. Map 28.

In this species the stem is shorter than in A.

lineata (no. 38) and is often prostrate. The

leaves are glaucous, not glossy or yellow-green,

and of solid colour or at most obscurely lined,

not distinctly lined as in A. lineata. The racemes

of A. glauca are cylindric with rounded apices,

whereas those of A. lineata are conical with

acute apices. A. comosa (no. 39) is a much taller

plant with a very tall inflorescence of flowers in

which the anthers and styles are more exserted

than in A. glauca.

To understand the significance of the name

(which means blue-green) of this species, it is

necessary to trace it back beyond the start of the

ALOACEAE: Aloe

43

binomial system which has been used since its

invention by Linnaeus (1753). Pre-Linnaean

plant names were descriptive phrases, often of

some considerable length, indicating how each

species could be distinguished from others of

the same genus. When what were then called

trivial names were first used in the second half

of the eighteenth century, one key word from

the phrase name in commonest use (one plant

might have several) was normally used for the

trivial name. The phrase name given to this

species by Commelijn (1701) was Aloe afri-

cana glauca margine et dorsi parte superiore

spinosa (with flore rubro added a few years

later [Commelijn 1703]). The trivial name

africana was used for Aloe africana caulescens,

foliis minus glands caulem amplectentibus

dorsi parte suprema spinosa. By coincidence,

only one pre-Linnaean species of Aloe has glau-

ca as its next keyword, and so the unique com-

bination A. glauca was applied to this species.

Vouchers: Acocks 19544 (PRE); Henderson

1844 (NBG); Meyer in Marloth 6562 (PRE,

STE); Reynolds 4749 (PRE, SAM); Wurts 217

(NBG).

38. Aloe lineata (Aiton) Haw. in Transac-

tions of the Linnean Society of London 7: 18

(1804); W.T. Aiton: 295 (1811); Haw.: 79

(1812); Haw.: 40 (1821); Salm-Dyck: 17, t. 1

(1863); Baker: 310 (1896a); A.Berger: 285

(1908); Pole Evans: t. 437 (1931c); Reynolds:

202 (1950); Jeppe: 53 (1969); Bornman &

D.S. Hardy: 73 (1972); B.-E. van Wyk &

G.F.Sm.: 54 (1996). Neotype: Eastern Cape,

Oukraal near Uitenhage, Reynolds 5728 (PRE,

holo.!; SAM!), here designated.

A. perfoliata L. T| lineata Aiton: 467 (1789).

A. lineata (Aiton) Haw. var. viridis Haw.: 40 (1821). Type:

not cited.

A. lineata (Aiton) Haw. var. glaucescens Haw.: 40 (1821).

Type: not cited.

Plants few-stemmed, stems up to 1 .5 m tall

in old specimens. Leaves 30—40 per rosette,

lanceolate, 200-400 x 40-90 mm, upper surface

flat to slightly channelled, lower surface con-

vex, distinctly lineate, dull to bright green, mar-

gins sometimes brown and cartilaginous

between teeth. Inflorescence a simple raceme

up to 1.2 m tall; peduncle 0.75-1 m long; bracts

oblanceolate, 20-27 x 6-8 mm, many-nerved.

Flowers salmon-pink to deep rose-pink, 32-50

mm long, cylindric-trigonous; all segments free

or almost so; pedicels 20-40 mm long, length-

ening in fruit. Anthers exserted 1-3 mm. Ovary

6-8 x 2-3 mm, green; style exserted 4-8 mm.

Fruit 20-27 x 7.5-10.0 mm, buff. Figure 7.

Aloe lineata occurs typically in Eastern and

Western Cape Succulent Veld (noorsveld), in

areas of low rainfall which may occur at any

season.

Differences between this species and A. glauca

(no. 37) are discussed under that species. A.

comosct (no. 39) seldom if ever has branched

stems, and has much taller inflorescences in

which the pedicels are sharply decurved. The

anthers and styles of A. comosa are much fur-

ther exserted than those of A. lineata.

The specific epithet refers to the longitudinal

linear markings of the leaves.

Two varieties are recognised:

Flowering from February to March; leaves

dull to bright green .... 38a. var. lineata

Flowering from July to November; leaves

yellowish or orange-green

38b. var. muirii

38a. var. lineata.

Description as for species. Flowering time

February to March.

Occurs in the Western and Eastern Cape.

Map 29.

Vouchers: H. Bolus 2688 (K); Dyer 5328

(GRA, PRE); MacOwan 3164 in Herb. Austro-

Afr. 1981 (BM. BOL. K, SAM, UPS); Marloth

5723 (PRE); Reynolds 3534 (PRE).

44

ALOACEAE: Aloe

C. f. etty del.

Figure 7. — Section Rhodacanthae. Aloe lineata: 1, inflorescence; 2, leaf; 3, median longitudinal section of flower.

Taken from Pole Evans (1931c).

ALOACEAE: Aloe

45

Map 29. — Aloe lineata var. lineata

Hybrid:

A. lineata var. lineata x A. arborescens (no.

96) (A. x platylepis Baker, A. x caesia Salm-

Dyck). Voucher: Fourcade 2231 (BOL).

38b. var. muirii (Marloth) Reynolds , The

aloes of South Africa: 205 (1950); Jeppe: 53

(1969); Bomman & D.S. Hardy: 73 (1972). Type:

Western Cape, Zandkraal, Muir 3267 (PRE!).

A. muirii Marloth: 210 (1929).

Leaves yellowish green to orange-green,

much more distinctly lineate than those of var.

lineata ; marginal teeth slightly larger than in

var. lineata. Flowering time July to November.

Other characters as for var. lineata.

Occurs in the Western and Eastern Cape.

Map 30.

This variety flowers in spring, unlike the typ-

ical variety, which flowers in autumn.

Recognising this variety as distinct on the basis

of this character is exactly analogous to the

cases of A. cooperi subsp. pulchra (no. 21b) —

where there are enough differences to allow the

recognition of a subspecies — and A. reitzii var.

vernalis (no. 107b).

Dr John Muir, after whom this variety is

named, lived in Riversdale, in the southern part

Map 30. — Aloe lineata var. muirii

of the Western Cape for many years. He col-

lected plants extensively in the area, and sent

them to L. Bolus and N.E. Brown, who named

many new species after him. He wrote what is

still the standard work on the seeds washed up

on South African shores by the Mozambique

Current, and his collection of drift seeds is pre-

served at Stellenbosch University.

Vouchers: Archibald 6155 (PRE); Hall 858

(NBG); Marloth 13198 (PRE); Reynolds 3554

(BOL).

39. Aloe comosa Marloth & A. Berger, in

A. Berger in Botanische Jahrbiicher 38: 86

(1905b); A. Berger: 281 (1908); Pole Evans: t.

107 (1923a); Reynolds: 387 (1950); Jeppe: 55

(1969); Bomman & D.S.Hardy: 211 (1972);

Palmer & Pitman: 373 (1972); B.-E. van Wyk &

G.F.Sm.: 48 (1996). Type: Western Cape, be-

tween Clanwilliam and Vanrhynsdorp, Marloth

3787 (BOL. holo.!; GRA!, PRE!).

Plants solitary, arborescent, 1-2 m tall.

Leaves many in a dense rosette, erect to

spreading, 400-650 x 85-120 mm, apices

sometimes recurved, shallowly channelled to

D-shaped in section, glaucous to brownish

pinkish grey above, bluish green below, mar-

gins pinkish. Inflorescence a simple, rarely

shortly branched, dense raceme, usually 3-5

simultaneously, 1.5-2. 5 m tall; bracts narrow-

46

ALOACEAE: Aloe

ly lanceolate-acuminate, 38-42 x 6-9 mm,

3-5-nerved. Flowers pinkish ivory, ventricose,

24-35 mm long; outer segments connate in

basal third, inner segments free but dorsally

adnate to outer in basal third; pedicels 13-20

mm long. Anthers exserted up to 10 mm.

Ovary ± 6-9 x 2 mm, green; style exserted

10-12 mm. Fruit not seen. Flowering time

December to January.

Endemic to the Western Cape. A. comosa

occurs in pockets of soil among rocks on Table

Mountain sandstone mountains, in areas of rela-

tively low winter rainfall, in a transitional belt

between fynbos and renosterbos. Map 31.

In habit (with erect stem and tall inflores-

cence) and flower colour, this species recalls A.

pretoriensis (no. 66). That species, however,

has branched inflorescences with cylindric, not

ventricose, flowers and included, not exserted,

anthers and styles. Differences between this

species on the one hand and A. glauca (no. 37)

and A. lineata (no. 38) on the other, are dealt

with under those species.

An extension to the botanical meaning of the

Latin word comosus to include ‘with a plume’

(from ‘with a tuft’, e.g. of sterile bracts, as in

the inflorescence of Eucomis) appears to be the

explanation of the name of this species. The tall,

simple inflorescences presumably reminded

Marloth and Berger of a plume or cockade.

Vouchers: Pillans PSME5376 (GRA, K);

Pole Evans 243 (PRE); Reynolds 4750 (BM,

PRE, SAM); Taylor 9047 (STE).

8. Section Serrulatae

Section Serrulatae Salm-Dyck, Monographia generum Aloes et Mesembryanthemi: 20 (1840).

Type species: A. variegata L.

Subgenus Gonialoe Baker: 155 (1880a); Baker: 305 (1896a). Type species: not cited.

Series Serrulatae (Salm-Dyck) A. Berger: 88 (1908); Reynolds: 206 (1950).

Plants usually suckering, mostly in dense clumps, sometimes solitary, stemless. Leaves 3-

ranked, deltoid to V-shaped in section, with horny margins and keel, margins minutely dentate; sur-

faces with pale or white spots in irregular transverse bands. Inflorescence a simple or branched, lax,

cylindric to conical raceme; peduncles with sterile bracts; Flowers cylindric, slightly ventricose,

sometimes with a distinct constriction above ovary; segments connate for over half their length.

Anthers not or hardly exserted. Style not or hardly exserted.

la Leaves spreading, held almost horizontally, longer than 200 mm; bracts 3-nerved

42. A. dinteri

1 b Leaves ascending, held at an angle of at least 45° to the horizontal, shorter than 1 80 mm;

bracts 1 -nerved:

2a Leaves ± 20-25; bracts longer than pedicels 40. A. variegata

2b Leaves ± 6-8; bracts shorter than pedicels 41. A. sladeniana

ALOACEAE: Aloe

47

The three species in this section are closely

related, and share several characters that distin-

guish them from section 9, Pictae. Although

plants in both sections have leaves with irregu-

lar transverse bands of spots, the leaves of

plants in this section are three-ranked, while

those in section Pictae are irregularly rosulate.

Leaf margins in this section are cartilaginous

and entire or minutely dentate, while plants in

section Pictae have leaves without cartilaginous

margins but which are coarsely dentate.

Flowers of plants in this section lack the promi-

nent basal swelling of the flower that charac-

terises section Pictae.

40. Aloe variegata L., Species plantarum:

321 (1753); Mill.: no. 9 (1768); Lam.: 89

(1783); Aiton: 470 (1789); Thunb.: 61 (1794);

Willd.: 190 (1799); DC.: 21 ( 1799); Sims: t. 5 13

(1801); W.T.Aiton: 296 (1811); Haw.: 81

(1812); Thunb.: 312 (1823); Salm-Dyck: 20, t.

2 (1840); Baker: 328 (1896a); A.Berger: 188

(1908); Marloth: 90 (1915); Pole Evans: t. 86

(1923b); Reynolds: 207 (1950); Jeppe: 16

(1969); Solch, Roessler & Merxm.: 19 (1970);

Bornman & D.S. Hardy: 75 (1972); Jankowitz:

54 (1975); B.-E. van Wyk & G.F.Sm.: 246

(1996). Iconotype: Aloe africana humilis, foliis

ex albo & viride variegatis C.Commelijn, Horti

medici Amstelaedamensis plantae rariores et

exoticae: 47, t. 47 (1706).

A. punctata Haw.: 26 (1804); Haw.: 44 (1821). Lecto-

iconotype: Pluk., Phytographia 129.1 (1691).

A. variegata L. var. haworthii A.Berger: 190 (1908).

Type: Eastern Cape, Sheldon, Schonland s.n. (B).

A. ausana Dinter: 259 (1931). Syntypes: Namibia, Aus,

Dinter 3149\ Namibia, Klein Karas, Dinter 4762 (B. holo.;

PRE!).

Plants 100-300 mm tall excluding inflores-

cence, in dense clumps. Leaves ± 20-25, ascend-

ing, held at an angle of at least 45° to the hori-

zontal, lanceolate-deltoid, 70-180 x 30-80 mm,

channelled to V-shaped in section, deep green to

grey-green with white spots. Inflorescence usu-

ally simple, rarely I - or 2-branched; peduncles

200-400 mm long; bracts narrowly deltoid,

very thin, scarious, white, 8-15 x 3-7 mm, 1-

nerved. Flowers flesh-pink to dull scarlet,

22-45 mm long; outer segments free for 5-7

mm, inner segments adnate to outer; pedicels

3-7 mm long, scarcely longer in fruit. Anthers

exserted up to 2 mm. Ovary 5-7 x 2-3 mm,

green to reddish brown; style exserted up to 2

mm. Fruit ± 27-30 x 25 mm, blue-grey to buff.

Flowering time July to September.

Aloe variegata occurs in Namibia, the

Northern Cape, Free State and Western and

Eastern Cape, on clayey soils, or rarely soils of

decomposed granite, in karoo vegetation and on

the edge of the Namib Desert. Plants usually

grow in the protection of small bushes of

Pentzia and similar genera. Map 32.

This species differs from A. sladeniana (no.

41) in having leaves with entire margins, and

which are somewhat larger and more regularly

three-ranked than those of A. sladeniana. The

flowers of A. sladeniana are paler in colour than

those of A. variegata. In A. dinteri (no. 42), the

leaves are more nearly horizontal, much longer

and more sharply folded.

Common names recorded for this species

include kanniedood (Afrikaans) and partridge-

breasted aloe (Reynolds 1950). The English

common name, like the Latin specific epithet,

refers to the spotted leaves. This species is used

Map 32. — • Aloe variegata

★ A. sladeniana

▲ A. dinteri

48

ALOACEAE: Aloe

Figure 8. — Section Serrulatae. Aloe sladeniana: 1, inflorescence, x 0.8; 2, leaf, x 0.8; 3, longitudinal section of

flower, x 2; 4, habit, much reduced. Taken from Reynolds (1952).

ALOACEAE: Aloe

49

in a Dutch remedy ( boereraat ) for toothache. In

the North-West Province, a brandy infusion of

cultivated plants of this species is used as boere-

raat for haemorrhoids (Watt & Breyer-Brand-

wijk 1963).

Vouchers: Dinter 4762 (PRE); Dyer 4015

(PRE, SAM, UPS); Giess 9456 (PRE); Hardy

2275 (PRE); Plowes 3218 (PRE).

Hybrid:

A. variegata x A. hereroensis var. hereroen-

sis (no. 76a). Voucher: Reynolds 4602 (PRE).

41. Aloe sladeniana Pole Evans in Annals

of the Bolus Herbarium 3: 13 (1920); J.R.Brown:

3 (1946); Reynolds: 212 (1950); Reynolds:

t. 1122 (1952); Jeppe: 18 (1969); Solch,

Roessler & Merxm.: 18 (1970); Bornman &

D.S. Hardy: 79 (1972); Jankowitz: 52 (1975).

Type: Namibia, Pearson PSME9000 (BOL!).

A. carowii Reynolds: 105 (1938b). Type: Namibia,

Nauchas, Reynolds 2247 (PRE!).

Plants 75-150 mm tall excluding inflores-

cence, in dense clumps. Leaves ± 6-8, ascend-

ing, held at an angle of at least 45° to the hori-

zontal, lanceolate-deltoid, 40-90 x 25—40 mm,

channelled to V-shaped in section, deep green to

grey-green with white spots. Inflorescence usu-

ally simple, rarely 1- or 2-branched; peduncles

200-500 mm long; bracts narrowly deltoid,

very thin, scarious, white, 4-6 x 2-3 mm, 1-

nerved. Flowers very pale to dull pink, 20-30

mm long; outer segments free for ± 7 mm, inner

segments adnate to outer; pedicels 17-23 mm

long. Anthers exserted up to 1 mm. Ovary

5. 0-7.0 x 1. 5-2.0 mm, green to reddish brown;

style exserted up to 1 mm. Fruit not seen.

Flowering time January to February. Figure 8.

Endemic to central Namibia. This species

seems to replace A. variegata (no. 40) in the

part of Namibia where winter rainfall gives way

to rain (or drought) in all seasons. A. sladeniana

in turn makes way for A. dinteri (no. 42) where

summer rain predominates. Like the Namibian

populations of A. variegata, this species occurs

on decomposed granites in areas with very cold

winters. Map 32.

Differences between this species and A. var-

iegata are discussed under that species. In addi-

tion, individual rosettes of A. sladeniana have

far fewer leaves than rosettes of A. variegata. In

A. sladeniana the leaf margins are finely

notched, but in A. dinteri they are finely

toothed. Other characters distinguishing these

two species are the same as those distinguishing

between A. variegata and A. dinteri.

Between 1908 and 1913, Professor H.H.W.

Pearson organised five or six expeditions from

Cape Town to Namaqualand, Namibia and

Angola, with financial support from the Percy

Sladen Memorial Fund. These expeditions were

therefore known as Percy Sladen Memorial

Expeditions, and about 80 papers were pub-

lished as a result of them. At least two species.

Aloe sladeniana and Prenia sladeniana (Me-

sembryanthemaceae), were discovered on these

expeditions and named after the financial bene-

factor.

Vouchers: Giess 13663 (PRE); Hall NBG

480/55 (NBG); Lewis 229 (PRE); Reynolds

2247 (PRE).

42. Aloe dinteri A. Berger, in Dinter, Neue

und wenig bekannte Pflanzen Deutsch-

Sudwest-Afrikas: 14 (1914); Reynolds: t. 637

(1936d); Reynolds: 210 (1950); Jeppe: 17

(1969); Solch, Roessler & Merxm.: 16 (1970);

Bornman & D.S. Hardy: 77 (1972); Jankowitz:

50 ( 1975). Type: Namibia, Outjo. Dinter 2791a

(SAM!).

Plants solitary, 150-200 mm tall excluding

inflorescence. Leaves 9-12, spreading, held al-

most horizontal, narrowly lanceolate to narrow-

ly deltoid, 200^-00 x 40-80 mm, V-shaped in

section, deep grey-green or brownish green with

white spots. Inflorescence 3-8-branched,

0. 5-1.0 m high; bracts narrowly deltoid-acumi-

nate, very thin, scarious, ± 7-12 x 2 mm, 3-

nerved ( 1 distinct, 2 obscure). Flowers pale pink

50

ALOACEAE: Aloe

with bluish bloom. 1 8-30 mm long, constricted

above ovary; outer segments free for 5-10 mm,

inner segments free but adnate to outer; pedicels

10-15 mm long, lengthening to 21 mm in fruit.

Anthers not or hardly exserted. Ovary 5. 0-6.0 x

1.5-2. 5 mm, olive-green to brownish green;

style not or hardly exserted. Fruit ±26 x 12 mm,

pale beige. Flowering time January to March.

Aloe dinteri occurs in Namibia in areas of

low summer rainfall, usually wedged firmly in

cracks in limestone rocks. Sometimes it also

occurs on granite, in bushveld near the edge of

the Namib Desert. Map 32.

In this species the roots form far more of the

total mass of the plant than the stem, leaves and

inflorescence. This disproportion is unique in the

genus. Bracts of A. dinteri are 3-nerved, not 1-

nerved as in A. variegata (no. 40) and A. sladen-

iana (no. 41). Other differences between A. din-

teri on the one hand and these two species on the

other are discussed under the relevant species.

M.K. Dinter (1868-1945) spent four periods

of several years in Namibia in the first four

decades of the 20th century (Gunn & Codd 1981).

He collected over 8 000 specimens, including the

first records of many new species. Our knowl-

edge of the flora of Namibia is still to a large

extent based on Dinter specimens. A journal

(Dinteria, published by the SWA Wissen-

schaftliches Gesellschaft) and several species,

including Aloe dinteri , are named after him.

Vouchers: Giess 15443 (MO, PRE, WIND),

Hall NBG255/51 (NBG); Hardy 2093 (PRE);

Reynolds 1630 (PRE).

9. Section Pictae

Section Pictae Salm-Dyck , Monographia generum Aloes et Mesembryanthemi: 23 (1837). Type

species: A. maculata All.

Section Maculatae Baker: 303 (1896a) pro parte. Type species: not cited.

Series Saponariae A. Berger: 47 (1905a); A. Berger: 192 (1908); Reynolds: 214 (1950). Type species: A. saponaria (Aiton)

Haw.

Plants solitary or suckering to form large colonies; stemless or short-stemmed. Leaves spirally

arranged, deltoid, lanceolate or apparently trapezoid by dying back of apices, slightly channelled.

D-shaped or biconvex in section, surfaces with few to many pale spots, often in irregular transverse

lines, sometimes confluent to cover almost the whole lower surface, margins sinuate-dentate with

pungent teeth. Inflorescence a dichotomously branched and rebranched, rarely simple, dense to lax,

capitate to cylindric raceme; sterile bracts present only on ultimate branches of peduncle. Flowers

often with pale longitudinal stripes, inflated around ovary, constricted above it, expanding to cylin-

dric-trigonous or rarely ventricose, decurved; segments connate for most of their length. Anthers

not or shortly exserted. Style not or shortly exserted.

la Plants in clumps:

2a Flower tube cylindric above basal constriction:

3a Leaves spotted on upper surface only:

4a Flower mouth straight; leaf spots irregularly arranged 57. A. angolensis

4b Flower mouth downturned; leaf spots in transverse bands 54. A. parvibracteata

3b Leaves spotted on both surfaces:

5a Bracts acuminate; flower mouth downturned; fruit ± 15 mm long 49. A. greenii

5b Bracts cirrhous; flower mouth straight; fruit ± 29 mm long 56. A. zebrina

2b Flower tube subclavate to clavate above basal constriction:

ALOACEAE: Aloe

51

6a Racemes elongate, conical to cylindric:

7a Racemes secund; flower tube subclavate 59. A. monotropa

7b Racemes symmetrical; flower tube distinctly clavate 58. A. grandidentata

6b Racemes capitate, shortly conical:

8a Inflorescence with over 30 racemes, these less than 80 mm in diameter

43. A. branddraaiensis

8b Inflorescence with up to 15 racemes, these over 80 mm in diameter:

9a Upper surface of leaves with spots and lines 44. A. swynnertonii

9b Upper surface of leaves with spots but not lines 45. A. maculata

lb Plants solitary:

10a Flower cylindric above basal constriction:

1 la Leaves up to 200 mm long, spotted on both surfaces; racemes very dense . . 60. A. prinslooi

1 lb Leaves longer than 400 mm, spotted on upper surface only; racemes sublax

57. A. angolensis

10b Flower subclavate to ventricose above basal constriction:

1 2a Raceme secund; flower mouth upturned 59. A. monotropa

12b Raceme symmetrical; flower mouth straight to downturned:

13a Leaf sap purple:

14a Leaves spotted on upper surface only:

15a Racemes longer than 190 mm, lax, elongate-conical 52. A. fasten

15b Racemes up to 175 mm long, dense, shortly conical 48. A. mudenensis

14b Leaves spotted on both surfaces:

16a Leaves up to 350 mm long; flowers orange to bright red 48. A. mudenensis

16b Leaves longer than 500 mm; flowers greyish dark pink to brownish red

5 1 . A. pruinosa

13b Leaf sap yellow:

17a Bracts as long as or longer than pedicels:

18a Bracts up to 17 mm long; leaves with lower surface spotted, not lined ... 50. A. dyeri

18b Bracts over 17 mm long; leaves with lower surface lined:

19a Plants up to 400 mm tall excluding inflorescence; inflorescence with ± 15

racemes; bracts acuminate 55. A. simii

• 19b Plants over 500 mm tall excluding inflorescence; inflorescence with ± 30

racemes; bracts cirrhous 53. A. dewetii

17b Bracts shorter than pedicels:

20a Leaves less than 4 times as long as wide:

21a Racemes up to 100 mm in diameter; seeds ± 4 mm long, hardly winged ....

46. A. greatheadii

21b Racemes over 120 mm in diameter; seeds ± 6 mm long, broadly winged ....

45. A. maculata

20b Leaves over 4 times as long as wide:

22a Racemes conical, longer than wide; leaf spots obscure 47. A. affinis

22b Racemes capitate, at least as wide as long; leaf spots distinct . . . 44. A. swynnertonii

Plants of this section are very easily recognised as belonging to this group by the irregular trans-

verse bands of spots on the leaves and the conspicuous basal swelling of the (lower. Within this

section, species are very difficult to recognise. Hybridisation and other probably continuing evolu-

tionary processes make understanding this group a very difficult task. This difficulty is particular-

ly acute in, for example, the circumscription of A. greatheadii (no. 46), A. parvibracteata (no. 54)

and A. zebrina (no. 56). For this reason, no finality can be claimed for the treatment presented here.

52

ALOACEAE: Aloe

43. Aloe branddraaiensis Groenew. ex

Van der Merwe in The Flowering Plants of

South Africa 20: t. 761 (1940); Reynolds: 219

(1950); Jeppe: 86 (1969); Bomman & D.S. Har-

dy: 83 (1972); B.-E. van Wyk & G.F.Sm.: 184

(1996). Type: Mpumalanga, Branddraai, F.Z.

van der Merwe PRE24208 (PRE!).

Plants stemless, 200-300 mm tall excluding

inflorescence, often suckering to form small

clumps. Leaves 20-25, 250-500 x 60-100 mm,

green, greyish or brownish, lineate, with many

H-shaped spots irregularly scattered. Inflores-

cence with 40-80 ultimate branches, 1.0-1. 5 m

tall; racemes capitate; bracts deltoid-acuminate,

8-12 x 2. 5-4.0 mm, 3-5-nerved. Flowers

15-27 mm long, dull scarlet-red with paler lon-

gitudinal stripes, subclavate to clavate above

basal constriction; outer segments free for ± 7

mm, inner segments adnate to outer; pedicels

15-20 mm long, lengthening to ± 25 mm in

fruit. Anthers not or hardly exserted. Ovary ± 3

x 2 mm; style not or hardly exserted. Fruit ± 16

x 8 mm, pale grey. Flowering time June to July.

Endemic to the Northern Province and

Mpumalanga. A. branddraaiensis grows in bush-

veld on very thin soil close to the escarpment, at

high altitude. Map 33.

The much-branched inflorescence distin-

guishes this species from all other maculates.

Map 33. — • Aloe branddraaiensis

★ A. swynnertonii

When not flowering, it may be distinguished

from the geographically close A.fosteri (no. 52)

by the disposition of the leaves, which are

almost horizontal in this species but ascending

to incurved in that one.

This species is named after the farm in Mpu-

malanga on which the type specimen was col-

lected.

Vouchers: Buitendag 841 (NBG, PRE);

Reynolds 2490 (PRE); Strey 3786 (PRE).

44. Aloe swynnertonii Rendle in Journal of

the Linnean Society of London, Botany 40: 215

(1911); Reynolds: 15 (1954); Reynolds: 84

(1966); Jeppe: 84 ( 1969); Bomman & D.S. Hardy:

85 (1972); West: 45 (1974); B.-E. van Wyk &

G.F.Sm.: 224 (1996). Type: Zimbabwe, near Chi-

petzana River, Swynnerton 722 (BM, holo.!; K).

A. petropliila Pillans: 213 (1933a); Letty: t. 555 (1934b);

Reynolds: 217 (1950); Jeppe: 85 (1969); Bomman &

D.S. Hardy: 81 (1972). Type; Northern Province, Wyllies

Poort, Frames BOL20482 ( BOL ! ).

A. chimanimaniensis Christian: t. 639 (1936b); Reynolds:

220 (1950). Type: Zimbabwe, Chimanimani Mountains,

Christian PRE21201 (PRE!).

A. vogtsii Reynolds: 118 (1936a); Reynolds: 257 (1950);

Jeppe: 85 (1969); Bomman & D.S. Hardy: 119 (1972). Type:

Northern Province, Soutpar.sberg, Vogts in Reynolds 1488

(PRE, holo.!; BOL!).

A. melsetterensis Christian: t. 697 (1938a). Type:

Zimbabwe, Chimanimani. Christian 275 (= PRE23026)

(PRE!).

Plants 250-350 mm tall excluding inflores-

cence, solitary or suckering to form small

groups, usually stemless. Leaves 15-20, spread-

ing, 200-600 x 40-110 mm, shallowly chan-

nelled, dark green with irregular spots and lines

above, pale green and striate below. Inflores-

cence with (5— )10— 15 ultimate branches, 0.8-1. 3

m tall; racemes capitate; bracts deltoid-acumi-

nate, 6-16 x 2-3 mm, 5-nerved. Flowers 20-30

mm long, coral-red with slightly paler longitudi-

nal stripes near mouth, subclavate above basal

constriction; outer segments connate for ± half

their length, inner segments adnate to outer;

ALOACEAE: Aloe

53

pedicels 11-27 mm long. Anthers not exserted.

Ovary 4. 5-7.0 x 1 .5-3.0 mm, green; style some-

times exserted up to 2 mm. Fruit ± 20 x 10 mm,

bluish grey. Flowering times February to March

and May to July.

Found in the Northern Province; also in

Malawi, Mozambique and Zimbabwe. In the

Soutpansberg this species occurs in cracks in

the rock on cliff faces. Map 33.

The inflorescences have relatively few

racemes, each of which is very capitate. The

flowers are disposed in such a way as to give

the appearance of a red sphere about the size of

a tennis ball at the end of each peduncle when

the first flowers open.

C.F.M. Swynnerton C.M.G. (1877-1938), a

well-known early botanical explorer of Mani-

caland, farmed and collected extensively in the

eastern highlands of Zimbabwe. Several species,

including Aloe swynnertonii, are named after

him (Gunn & Codd 1981).

Vouchers: Hemm 119 (PRE, VENDA); Jacob-

sen 2402 (PRE); Meeuse 10232 (LISC, PRE);

Reynolds 1873 (BOL, PRE); Schlieben &

Hardy 12097 (PRE).

Hybrid:

A. swynnertonii x A. zebrina (no. 56).

Voucher: Buitendag 1144 (NBG).

45. Aloe maculata All., Auctarium ad syn-

opsin methodicam stirpium horti regii Tau-

rinensis: 13 (1773); All.: 65 (1774-1776);

Medik.: 72 (1786); Dandy: 618 (1970); B.-E.

van Wyk & G.F.Sm.: 206 (1996). Iconotype:

Aloe africana caulescens folds spinosis macu-

latis ab utraque parte albicantibus notatis

J.Commelijn, Horti medici Amstelaedamensis

2: 9, t. 5 (1701).

A. perfoliata L. var. X L.: 340 (1753). Iconotype:

Dillenius, Hortus elthamensis 17, t. 14, fig. 15 (1732).

A. perfoliata L. var. 0 L.: 340 (1753). Iconotype:

C.Commelijn, Horti medici Amstelaedamensis plantae rari-

ores et exoticae: 9. t. 5 (1706).

A. disticha Mill.: no. 5 (1768) non L. Iconotype:

C.Commelijn, Horti medici Amstelaedamensis plantae rari-

ores et exoticae: 9, t. 5 (1706).

A. maculosa Lam.: 87 (1783). Iconotype: Dillenius,

Hortus elthamensis 17, t. 14, fig. 15 (1732).

A. perfoliata L. t saponaria Aiton: 467 (1789). A.

saponaria (Aiton) Haw.: 17 (1804); Haw.: 83 (1812); Ker

Gawl.: t. 1460 (1812a); Haw.: 41 (1821); Baker: 312

(1896a); A. Berger: 201 (1908); Pole Evans: t. 96 (1923c);

Reynolds: 224 (1950); Adamson: 171 (1950); Jeppe: 67

(1969); Bornman & D.S. Hardy: 89 (1972); West: 42 (1974);

Compton: 101 (1976). No type cited.

A. umbellate DC.: t. 98 (1802); Salm-Dyck: 25, t. 1

(1863). Iconotype: DC., Historia plantarum succulentarum:

t. 98(1802).

A. saponaria (Aiton) Haw. var. latifolia Haw.: 18 (1804);

Ker Gawl.: t. 1346 (1811a). A. latifolia (Haw.) Haw.: 82

(1812); Salm-Dyck: 23, t. 3 (1854); Baker: 313 (1896a);

A. Berger: 204 (1908); Glen & G.F.Sm.: 40 (1995). Lecto-

iconotype: Curtis’s Botanical Magazine 33: t. 1346 (181 la).

A. leptophylla N.E.Br. ex Baker: 165 (1880a); Baker: 313

(1896a); Baker: t. 7624 (1898b); A.Berger: 198 (1908).

Type: Western Cape, Worcester, Cooper s.n. (Kl).

A. macracantha Baker: 167 (1880a); Baker: t. 6580

(1881); Baker: 314 (1896a); A.Berger: 199 (1908);

Reynolds: 37 (1937a); Reynolds: 290 (1950). Type: Cape,

no precise locality. Cooper s.n. (Kl).

A. saponaria (Aiton) Haw. var. brachyphylla Baker: 164

(1880a): Baker: 313 (1896a); A.Berger: 202 (1908). Type:

not cited.

A. leptophylla N.E.Br. ex Baker var. stenophylla Baker:

313 (1896a); A.Berger: 199 (1908). Type: not cited by

Baker.

A. saponaria (Aiton) Haw. var. ficksburgensis Reynolds:

148 (1937b); Reynolds: 227 (1950); Jeppe: 68 (1969);

Bornman & D.S. Hardy: 89 (1972). Type: Free State,

Ficksburg, Reynolds 2087 (PRE, holo.!; BOL!).

A. umfoloziensis Reynolds: 42 (1937a): Reynolds: 222

(1950); Jeppe: 69 (1969); Bornman & D.S. Hardy: 89

(1972); B.-E. van Wyk & G.F.Sm.: 226 (1996). Type:

KwaZulu-Natal, Nongoma. Reynolds 2011 (PRE!).

Plants stemless and suckering freely to short-

stemmed and solitary, 200-500 mm tall exclud-

ing inflorescence. Leaves 12-20, spreading to

slightly deflexed, narrowly to broadly lanceo-

late, 130-500 x 50-120 mm, upper surface flat

to slightly channelled, dark green with many

pale spots in irregular transverse rows, lower

surface convex, paler green, lineate, with fewer

54

ALOACEAE: Aloe

spots or unspotted. Inflorescence with (l-)4-12

ultimate branches, 0.4-1. 5 m tall; racemes cap-

itate; bracts deltoid-acuminate, 7-16 x 2. 5-3. 5

mm, distinctly 3-nerved to obscurely many-

nerved. Flowers yellow to pink, orange or red,

20 — 45 mm long, subclavate to clavate above

basal constriction; outer segments free for 6-15

mm, inner segments free but dorsally adnate to

outer; pedicels 1 0 — 45 mm long, lengthening to

35-75 mm in fruit. Anthers exserted 1-5 mm.

Ovary 5-10 x 2-4 mm, pale green; style exsert-

ed 3-5 mm. Fruit 18—40 x 6-15 mm, bluish

grey. Seeds charcoal-grey, ± 6.0 x 2.5 x 1 .5 mm,

broadly winged. Flowering time June to

September.

Found in Mpumalanga, Swaziland, the Free

State, KwaZulu-Natal, Lesotho and the Western

and Eastern Cape; also in Zimbabwe. A. macu-

late usually occurs in grassland, where the grass

may be so dense as almost to choke any forbs

out, or sparse, with much bare soil between the

tufts. The soil varies from consolidated beach

dunes to clay and stones, at altitudes from sea

level to high mountains. Map 34.

Aloe maculate differs from A. branddraaien-

sis (no. 43) and A. swynnertonii (no. 44) in hav-

ing fewer racemes per inflorescence than either

of these species. Flowers of A. branddraaiensis

are a shade of pale pink not found in A. macu-

lata, whereas those of A. swynnertonii are often

bicoloured, an arrangement not found in A.

maculata. Flowers of A. swynnertonii are shiny,

as if polished to a high gloss; the flowers of A.

maculata , while not pruinose, are not as shiny.

Characters separating A. mudenensis (no. 48)

from A. maculata are discussed under that

species.

The specific epithet ( maculata = spotted)

refers to the spots on the leaves. This species

was the first of the maculates to be cultivated in

Europe, and the spotted leaves are recorded in

the phrase name given by Commelijn on the

plate that is the iconotype (see above). Common

names recorded for this species include soap

aloe, icena (Zulu), inocelwane (Xhosa) and

lekhala la thaba (‘mountain aloe’ in seSotho)

(Reynolds 1950). The recorded medicinal uses

of this species are many. The leaf tissue forms

an analgesic poultice which is used for cuts and

abrasions. Other recorded medicinal uses are as

cures for enteritis in fowls, and for ringworm. It

is also used in tanning and magic.

Vouchers: Bohnen 7421 (PRE. STE); Comp-

ton 28541 (NBG, PRE); Moll 1879 (PRE);

Reynolds 5449 (PRE); Strey 7594 (NU, PRE,

UDW).

Hybrids:

1 . A. maculata x A. pratensis (no. 35). See A.

pratensis.

2. A. maculata x A. mudenensis (no. 48).

Voucher: Acocks s.n. (PRE).

3. A. maculata x A. grandidentata (no. 58).

Voucher: Reynolds 86 (BOL).

4. A. maculata x A. striata subsp. striata (no.

61a). (A. x schonlandii Baker). Vouchers: Herre

SUG29 (BOL); Marloth 8940 (PRE); Schon-

land SAM22636 (SAM); Thorne SAM57637

(SAM).

5. A. maculata x A. perfoliata (no. 87).

Voucher: Henderson 1623 (NBG).

6. A. maculata x A. arborescens (no. 96) (A.

x obscura Mill.). Vouchers: McLoughlin s.n.

(PRE); L.L. Britten 5154 (GRA).

ALOACEAE: Aloe

55

7. A. maculata xA.ferox (no. 1 10). Voucher:

Reynolds 1413 (PRE).

46. Aloe greatheadii Schonland in Records

of the Albany Museum I: 121 (1904); A. Berger:

212 (1908); Reynolds: 231 (1950); Reynolds:

46 (1954); Reynolds: 82 (1966); Jeppe: 82

(1969); Bornman & D.S. Hardy: 95 (1972);

West: 46 (1974); B.-E. van Wyk & G.F.Sm.:

196 (1996). Type: Botswana, near Serowe,

Schonland 1616 (GRA, holo.!; PRE!).

A. pallidiflora A. Berger: 58 (1905a); A. Berger: t. 8122

(1907). Type: Hort. La Mortola, Anon. s.n. (B?).

A. termetophila De Wild.: 30 (1921). Type: Democratic

Republic of the Congo, near Lubumbashi, Homble 655

(BR).

Plants usually stemless, sometimes short-

stemmed in old, robust plants; 150-300 mm tall

excluding inflorescence; usually solitary. Leaves

± 12 per rosette, 160-470 x 60-120 mm, upper

surface channelled, dark green with many pale

spots in irregular transverse bands, lower surface

convex, pale green, lineate. Inflorescence with

3-8 ultimate branches, 1.0-1.75 m tall; racemes

capitate to subcapitate, dense; bracts narrowly

deltoid-acuminate, 10-20 x 2-4 mm, 3-many-

nerved. Flowers dull flesh-pink to almost white,

often with paler longitudinal stripes, 22-35 mm

long, subclavate above basal constriction; outer

segments free for 7-10 mm, inner segments

adnate to outer; pedicels 1 2-25 mm long, length-

ening to ± 30 mm in fruit. Anthers exserted 1-2

mm. Ovary' 5. 0-7.0 x 1. 5-3.0 mm, green; style

exserted 2-3 mm. Fruit 19-32 x 9-15 mm, pink-

ish grey. Seeds deep grey-maroon, ± 4.0 x 2.5 x

1.0 mm, wing small to absent. Flowering time

usually May to July.

At the southern end of its range, A. great-

headii occurs on rocky outcrops in highveld

grassland, but further north it appears to favour

termitaria. Populations on deep turf soil are by

no means uncommon.

This species is very similar to A. zebrina (no.

56) and A. parvibracteata (no. 54). It differs

from both of these by the subdense to dense,

conical to subcapitate terminal raceme. It dif-

fers from A. parvibracteata in that the leaf sap

dries golden yellow, not (usually) purple, and

from A. zebrina in that peak flowering time is

winter (July) not autumn (March). These

species intergrade in southern tropical Africa,

and would repay detailed investigation.

This species is named after Dr J.B. Greathead,

who was co-collector with Dr S. Schonland of

the type specimen.

Two varieties are recognised:

Raceme apex rounded in silhouette;

pedicels shorter than 1 5 mm

46a. var. greatheadii

Raceme apex acute in silhouette; pedicels

longer 15 mm 46b. var. davyana

Note: this key will not work with material of

tropical African origin. However, only the vari-

ety greatheadii occurs north of the Limpopo

River.

46a. var. greatheadii.

Description as for species.

Found in Botswana, the Northern Province,

Gauteng and Mpumalanga; also in the

Democratic Republic of the Congo, Malawi,

Mozambique and Zimbabwe. Map 35.

Map 35. — Aloe greatheadii var. greatheadii

56

ALOACEAE: Aloe

Vouchers: Galpin 13315 (PRE); Marloth

5145 (PRE); Reynolds 1519 (BOL, PRE);

Scheepers 992 (BM, MO, PRE. SRGH); Smuts

& Gillett 3561 (PRE).

Hybrids:

E A. greatheadii var. grecitheadii x A. clavi-

flora (no. 70). Voucher: Reynolds 1566 (PRE).

2. A. greatheadii var. greatheadii x A.

liereroensis var. hereroensis (no. 76a). Vouchers:

Reynolds 1556 (PRE); Wilman 13323 (PRE).

3. A. greatheadii var. greatheadii x A. mar-

lothii subsp. marlothii (no. 104a). Vouchers:

Maguire 928 (NBG); Reynolds 1523 (PRE).

4. A. greatheadii var. greatheadii x A. lit-

toralis (no. 114). Voucher: Pole Evans 11414

(PRE).

46b. var. davyana (Schonland) Glen &

D.S. Hardy in South African Journal of Botany

53: 490 (1987a).

A. davyana Schonland: 288 (1905a); A. Berger: 211

(1908); Pole Evans: t. 358 (1929a); Reynolds: 233 (1950);

Jeppe: 94 (1969): Bornman & D.S. Hardy: 97 (1972). Type:

Gauteng?, no precise locality, Burtt Davy 1855 (GRA!).

A. longibracteata Pole Evans: 25 (1915); Pole Evans: t.

299 (1928b): Reynolds: 262 (1950); Jeppe: 92 (1969);

Bornman & D.S. Hardy: 125 (1972); B.-E. van Wyk &

G.F.Sm.: 204 (1996). Type: Mpumalanga, Lydenburg, Pole

Evans 56 (PRE!).

A. barbertoniae Pole Evans: 705 (1917); Reynolds: 265

(1950); Jeppe: 93 (1969); Bornman & D.S. Hardy: 127

(1972). Type: Mpumalanga, Barberton, Thorncroft s.n.

(BOL!).

A. verdoorniae Reynolds: 173 (1936e); R. A. Dyer: t. 879

(1942); Reynolds: 237 (1950); Jeppe: 96 (1969); Bornman

& D.S. Hardy: 99 (1972). Type: Gauteng, Trigaarts Poort,

Verdoorn 1624 (PRE!).

A. labiaflava Groenew.: 57 (1936e) Glen, G.F.Sm. &

D.S. Hardy: 98 (1995). Neotype: Gauteng, Gemsbokspruit,

F.Z. van der Merwe 100 (PRE!).

A. comosibracteata Reynolds: 27 ( 1 936f)- Type:

Mpumalanga. Barberton District, Reynolds 1454 (PRE,

holo. ! ; BOL!).

A. graciliflora Groenew.: 137 (1936f): Reynolds: 241

(1950); Jeppe: 94 (1969); Bornman & D.S. Hardy: 103

(1972); Glen, G.F.Sm. & D.S. Hardy: 98 (1995). Neotype:

Mpumalanga, Dullstroom, F.Z. van der Merwe PRE24089

(PRE!).

A. mutans Reynolds: t. 602 (1936g); Reynolds: 261

(1950); Jeppe: 91 (1969); Bornman & D.S. Hardy: 123

(1972). Type: Northern Province, near Chuniespoort,

Reynolds 1527 (PRE. holo.!; BOL!, SRGH!).

A. davyana Schonland var. subolifera Groenew.: t. 732

(1939); Reynolds: 235 (1950); Jeppe: 95 (1969): Bornman

& D.S. Hardy: 97 ( 1972). Type: Northern Province, Pienaars

River, F.Z. van der Merwe PRE22816 (PRE!).

Plants more rarely short-stemmed, more

often suckering. Leaves shorter, ± 80-220 x

45-80 mm; upper surface flat to slightly con-

vex. Inflorescence shorter, 0.6-1. 2 m; racemes

capitate to subcapitate. Flowers deeper pink.

Other characters as for species.

Found in the Northern Province, North-

West, Gauteng. Mpumalanga, Swaziland, Kwa-

Zulu-Natal and Free State. Map 36.

This variety intergrades with var. greatheadii

in the southern part of the Northern Province,

and so cannot be held to be distinct at specific

or subspecific level.

Dr J. Burtt Davy, after whom this variety is

named, founded the Botanical Research Insti-

tute, one of the predecessor organisations of the

National Botanical Institute, in 1903. The

seTswana name for this plant is kgopane

ALOACEAE: Aloe

57

(Reynolds 1950). Large, concentrated popula-

tions of A. greatheadii var. davyana are an indi-

cation that the veld in which they occur is heav-

ily overgrazed. A. greatheadii var. davyana is a

splendid bee plant, particularly favoured by

breeders of queen bees (Johannsmeyer pers.

comm.). However, another report (Watt &

Breyer-Brandwijk 1963) states that bees kept on

an unrelieved diet of this species become very

vicious. The honey is off-white and almost

tasteless, with a slight hint of smokiness. In folk

medicine, a decoction of this plant is used as a

purgative in pregnancy, and the leaf pulp is used

as a treatment for snakebite.

Vouchers: Balsinhas 3018 (MO, PRE);

Buitendag 846 (PRE); Edwards 1096 (PRE);

Reynolds 3895 (BM, PRE); Verdoorn 1625

(PRE).

Hybrids:

1. A. greatheadii var. davyana x A. parvi-

hracteata (no. 54). Voucher: Barnard 533 (PRE).

2. A. greatheadii var. davyana x A. crvp-

topoda (no. 77). Vouchers: Nicholson 307 (PRE);

Reynolds 1254 (PRE).

3. A. greatheadii var. davyana x A. spicata

(no. 100). Vouchers: Northover B (PRE); Rey-

nolds 1445 (BOL).

4. A. greatheadii var. davyana x A. castanea

(no. 102). Voucher: Vogts 309 (PRE).

5. A. greatheadii var. davyana x A. petricola

(no. 106). Voucher: Reynolds 1840 (PRE).

47. Aloe afflnis A. Berger in Das Pflan-

zenreich 33: 206 (1908); Pole Evans: t. 759

(1939a); Reynolds: 243 (1950); Jeppe: 80

(1969); Bornman & D.S.Hardy: 105 (1972);

Compton: 97 (1976); B.-E. van Wyk & G.F.Sm.:

182 (1996). Type: Mpumalanga, near Lvden-

burg, Wilms 1490 (B).

A. immaculata Pillans: 25 (1934b); Reynolds: 239 (1950);

Jeppe: 81 (1969); Bornman & D.S.Hardy: 101 (1972); B.-E.

van Wyk & G.F.Sm.: 200 (1996). Type: Northern Province,

Malips Drift. Herre SUG6774 (BOL. holo.!).

Plants solitary, stemless, 200-300 mm tall

excluding inflorescence. Leaves 16-20, 200-400

x 50-100 mm, ascending. D-shaped to slightly

channelled in section, green, lineate, with no to

few spots on upper surface only, usually with

maroon horny margins between teeth. Inflores-

cence with 3-8 ultimate branches; racemes sub-

cylindric, dense; bracts deltoid-acuminate, ±

13-23 x 3 mm, ± 5-nerved. Flowers dull brick-

red, sometimes clavate above constriction

above ovary, 25^15 mm long; outer segments

free for 6-10 mm, inner segments adnate to

outer; pedicels 15-22 mm long, lengthening to

25-30 mm in fruit. Anthers not or hardly exsert-

ed. Ovary 7-9 x 2-3 mm, green; style exserted

0-4 mm. Fruit ± 17 x 8 mm, bluish grey.

Flowering time May to June.

Aloe ajflnis has been recorded in the Northern

Province, Gauteng and Mpumalanga, and occurs

on sandy loam in bushveld. Plants of this species

normally have leaves without spots or with only

very few, irregularly arranged spots, and choco-

late-brown homy margins. However, one finds

plants with unspotted leaves in the same popula-

tion as plants with quite densely spotted leaves,

and plants with continuous, broken and absent

brown margins all in one population. The absent

to obscure leaf spots, brown horny margins and

flowers with pronounced basal swellings distin-

guish typical plants of this species from all other

species. Map 37.

Map 37. — • Aloe affinis

★ A. mudenensis

58

ALOACEAE: Aloe

Berger (1908) considered that this species

was related ( affinis , in Latin) to A. zebrina. This

is undoubtedly true, but the relationship is no

closer than that between this species and any

other maculate.

Vouchers: Compton 29121 (NBG. PRE,

SRGH); Jacobsen 2873 (PRE); Kluge 1944

(PRE); Reynolds 2517 (BOL, PRE); J. Smuts

308 (PRE)’.

48. Aloe mudenensis Reynolds in Journal

of South African Botany 3: 39 (1937a); Rey-

nolds: 244 (1950); Jeppe: 70 (1969); Bomman

& D.S. Hardy: 107 (1972); B.-E. van Wyk &

G.F.Sm.: 210 (1996). Type: KwaZulu-Natal,

Muden Valley, Reynolds 2029 (PRE. holo.!;

BOL!).

Plants usually solitary, short-stemmed. 250-

500 mm tall excluding inflorescence. Leaves ±

20, spreading, 175-350 x 50-90 mm, blue-

green in summer, blue-purple in winter, upper

surface flat to slightly channelled, with many

irregular pale spots, lower surface convex, lin-

eate, with or without irregular spots. Inflores-

cence with ± 8 ultimate branches, up to 1 m tall;

racemes cylindric-conical, dense, up to 175 mm

long; bracts deltoid-acuminate, 14—20 x 2—4

mm, 5-9-nerved; pedicels 15-30 mm long,

lengthening in fruit. Flowers 19-35 mm long,

brilliant orange or sometimes varying from yel-

low to red, subclavate above basal constriction;

outer segments free for 5-9 mm. inner segments

adnate to outer. Anthers exserted 1-4 mm.

Ovary 7-8 x 2-3 mm; style exserted 2-5 mm.

Fruit ±16x8 mm. Flowering time June to July.

Found in Swaziland and KwaZulu-Natal,

with one record on the Mpumalanga border. A.

mudenensis occurs in valley bushveld on sandy

loam. It is one of the few species to survive

close to human habitation and in heavily over-

grazed areas. Map 37.

Plants of this species are more often caules-

cent than any other member of this section

except A. angolensis (no. 57). One very old

plant was seen near Muden with a prostrate

stem 2 m long. Other distinguishing characters

are the bluish green leaves, which go an attrac-

tive shade of lilac in cold weather, and the stri-

ate lower surfaces of the leaves.

This species is named after its type locality,

the Muden valley of KwaZulu-Natal.

Vouchers: Acocks 10527 (NH, PRE); Comp-

ton 26972 (NBG. PRE); Edwards 2843 (NU,

PRE); Reynolds 2030 (PRE); Rogers 24589

(K).

Hybrid:

A. mudenensis x A. maculata (no. 45). See A.

maculata.

49. Aloe greenii Baker in Journal of the

Linnean Society of London, Botany 18: 165

(1880a); Baker: t. 6520 (1880b); Baker: 315

(1896a); A. Berger: 210 (1908); Reynolds: 246

(1950); Jeppe: 74 (1969); Bomman & D.S. Har-

dy: 109 (1972); B.-E. van Wyk & G.F.Sm.: 198

(1996). Type: Eastern Cape, no precise locality,

Anon. s.n. (K!).

Plants stemless, 150-250 mm tall excluding

inflorescence, forming large dense groups.

Leaves 12-16 per rosette, 250-550 x 40-80

mm, upper surface flat to slightly channelled,

bright green with obscure lines and many

whitish spots subconfluent in irregular trans-

verse bands, lower surface convex, bands of

spots broader and more pronounced than upper.

Inflorescence with 5-7 ultimate branches,

1.0-1. 3 m tall; racemes subcylindric, sublax;

bracts deltoid-acuminate, 6-20 x 2-3 mm,

7-many-nerved. Flowers dull flesh-pink with

dusty bloom, 21-30 mm long; outer segments

free for 7-10 mm. inner segments adnate to

outer; pedicels 7-10 mm long. Anthers exserted

up to 2 mm. Ovary’ ±6x2 mm; style exserted

2^4 mm. Fruit ±15x7 mm. Flowering time

January to March.

This species occurs on stony soil in Kwa-

Zulu-Natal, often in deep shade in dry thorny

woodland. In view of the fact that no definite

ALOACEAE: Aloe

59

Map 38. — • Aloe greenii

★ A. dyeri

records are known for the Eastern Cape, the

type locality as stated in the protologue seems

doubtful. Map 38.

Aloe greenii is similar to A. pruinosa (no.

51), but is smaller in all its parts, lacks the grey

bloom on the inflorescence of that species, and

suckers to form large groups, whereas A. prui-

nosa remains solitary. A. greenii is superficially

similar to A. parvibracteata (no. 54), but several

characters separate these two species. In A.

greenii, the leaves are longer and narrower than

in A. parvibracteata, the sap dries yellow, not

purple, and in dense populations the leaves of

individual heads are incurved, not recurved. In

A. greenii the lower surface of the leaves is

densely spotted, whereas in A. parvibracteata it

is paler green than the upper surface, unspotted

and striate.

There appears to be no record of the epony-

mous Mr Green. Baker ( 1 880b) records that the

type plant was received by Kew from Mr

Wilson Saunders, who received it from Mr T.

Cooper (see A. cooperi, no. 21), but it was not

among the plants collected by the latter from the

Eastern Cape.

Vouchers: Doiclge 64 (PRE); Edwards 3285

(NU, PRE); Lawn 1869 (NH); Leach 34 (K,

SRGH); MacOwan 3153 in Herb. Austro-Afr.

1979 (K).

50. Aloe dyeri Schonland in Records of the

Albany Museum i : 289 (1905a); A. Berger: 209

(1908); Reynolds: 248 (1950); Jeppe: 76

(1969); Bornman & D.S. Hardy: 111 (1972);

Compton: 99 (1976); B.-E. van Wyk &

G.F.Sm.: 190 (1996). Type: Mpumalanga, no

precise locality, Burtt Davy s.n. (GRA!).

Plants usually solitary, stemless or short-

stemmed, 400-700 mm tall excluding inflores-

cence. Leaves ± 20, ascending or arcuate-

reflexed, 400-700 x 45-150 mm, channelled,

upper surface usually with few to many small

whitish spots, irregular or in wavy transverse

bands, lower surface more copiously and usual-

ly more regularly spotted than upper. Inflores-

cence with 15-50 ultimate branches, 1. 5-2.0 m

tall; racemes cylindric, lax; bracts deltoid-

acuminate, 10-17 x 2—4 mm, many-nerved.

Flowers glossy brick-red, 25-35 mm long, sub-

clavate above basal constriction; outer segments

free for 5-8 mm, inner segments free but adnate

to outer; pedicels 7-17 mm long. Anthers not or

hardly exserted. Ovary 5-8 x 2-3 mm, green;

style exserted 1-4 mm. Fruit not seen.

Flowering time March to June.

Aloe dyeri is found in the southeast of the

Northern Province, in Mpumalanga and Swazi-

land; also in Mozambique. It occurs in shade in

thorny forest in stony kloofs at low altitude on

the Mpumalanga and Swaziland escarpment, in

similar positions on the Lebombo Mountains, or

in stony grassland protected from the midday

and afternoon sun. In its preference for protect-

ed places it differs from most members of this

section. Map 38.

This is the largest species in the section, with

rosettes reaching 2 m in diameter and inflores-

cences up to 2 m tall. The leaves are often arcuate-

reflexed, a character not common in this sec-

tion.

This species is named after Sir W.T. Thiselton-

Dyer, editor of the last four volumes of Flora

capensis. Thiselton-Dyer sent the type plant

from Kew to Grahamstown, where it was

described by Dr S. Schonland.

60

ALOACEAE: Aloe

Vouchers: Compton 28887 (NBG. PRE);

Leach 84 (K, PRE, SRGH); Reynolds 5553

(PRE. SRGH); Van der Schijff 3632 (PRE,

SRGH).

51. Aloe pruinosa Reynolds in Journal of

South African Botany 2: 122 (1936a); Reynolds:

250 (1950); Jeppe: 75 (1969); Bomman &

D.S. Hardy: 113 (1972); B.-E. van Wyk &

G.F.Sm.: 218 (1996). Type: KwaZulu-Natal,

Pietermaritzburg, Reynolds 377 (PRE, holo.!;

BOL!).

Plants solitary, 250-600 mm tall excluding

inflorescence, with a 300-500 mm long, often

prostrate stem. Leaves 16-24, erect to spreading,

500-750 x 60-100 mm, channelled, upper sur-

face with many whitish spots, irregularly

arranged or in transverse bands, lower surface

with more numerous spots in more distinct

bands. Inflorescence with 11-20 ultimate

branches, 1.4— 2.0 m tall; racemes conical, sub-

lax; bracts deltoid-acuminate, 5-12 x 2-3 mm,

5-7-nerved. Flowers brownish red to darkish

pink with greyish powdery bloom, 24—33 mm

long, subclavate above basal constriction; outer

segments free for 5-7 mm, inner segments

adnate to outer; pedicels 8-12 mm long. Anthers

exserted up to 2 mm. Ovary 6. 0-8.0 x 1. 5-3.0

mm, green; style exserted 1-4 mm. Fruit not

seen. Flowering time February to March.

Aloe pruinosa is endemic to shade in Acacia

woodland in the KwaZulu-Natal midlands. It

occurs on heavy loam in areas of fairly high

summer rainfall. Map 39.

This plant is smaller than A. dyeri (no. 50)

but larger than other members of the section. A.

pruinosa is more readily short-stemmed than

that species, and there are differences in leaf

markings and in the size and colour of the flow-

ers. A. pruinosa differs from all other southern

African Aloe species in having a copious dull

grey bloom on the flowers, pedicels and pedun-

cle. Although similar in many respects to A.

greenii (no. 49), it is distinguishable from that

species in the field in all seasons; the differ-

ences are given under A. greenii.

Map 39. — • Aloe pruinosa

★ A. fosteri

▲ A. dewetii

In classical Latin the word pruinosus means

‘frosty'; in botanical Latin this meaning is

extended by analogy to include ‘covered with

grey wax’. In this species the epithet refers to

the grey bloom on the flowers.

Vouchers: Comins 374 (NU); Giddy in

Brandham & Cutler 404 (K); B. Nicholson PRE

38115 (PRE).

52. Aloe fosteri Pillans in South African

Gardening and Country Life 23: 140 (1933b);

Pole Evans: t. 612 (1936g); Reynolds: 252

(1950); Jeppe: 89 (1969); Bomman & D.S. Har-

dy: 115 (1972); B.-E. van Wyk & G.F.Sm.: 192

( 1996). Type: Mpumalanga, Lydenburg District,

Pillans BOL 20447 (BOL!).

Plants solitary, 250-400 mm tall excluding

inflorescence, usually stemless. Leaves 16-24,

suberect, 300^100 x 40-80 mm, upper surface

flat to slightly channelled, dark green with many

pale green spots in irregular transverse bands,

lower surface convex, paler green, unspotted.

Inflorescence with 15-40 ultimate branches,

1.0-1. 5 m tall; racemes cylindric, lax, longer

than 190 mm; bracts deltoid-acuminate, 10-15 x

2—4 mm, many-nerved. Flowers yellow to red,

21-38 mm long, subclavate above basal con-

striction; outer segments free for 5-9 mm, inner

segments mostly adnate to outer; pedicels 8-12

ALOACEAE: Aloe

61

mm long. Anthers exserted up to 2 mm. Ovary

5-6 x 2-3 mm, green; style exserted up to 2 mm.

Fruit 17-26 x 8-13 mm, pale brownish grey.

Flowering time March to April.

Aloe fosteri occurs in thorny woodland on

thin, rocky soils near the Northern Province and

Mpumalanga escarpment, on the plateau side;

there are also two records from the Lebombo

Mountains, one on each side of the Mozam-

bique/South Africa border. Map 39.

Differences between this species and A.

branclclraaiensis (no. 43) are dealt with under

that species. The fine, grey, pruinose, waxy cov-

ering of the leaves, which can be rubbed off

with a cloth, is unique to this species. The flow-

ers vary from lemon-yellow to deep crimson

and even to pale pink. It is the most variable of

the maculates in this character.

The specific epithet honours Mr C. Foster,

late of Krugersdorp, who collected the type

specimen. The Bakone (Lebowa) name of this

species is tookgo (Reynolds 1950). In Sekhu-

khuneland the heated leaves of this species are

applied as poultices to sores.

Vouchers: Buitendag 842 (NBG, PRE);

Leach 81 (K, SRGH); Reynolds 1321 (PRE);

Smuts 1558 (PRE); Van der Schijff 2602 (PRE).

53. Aloe dewetii Reynolds in Journal of

South African Botany 3: 139 (1937c); Reynolds:

t. 692 (1938c); Reynolds: 266 (1950); Jeppe: 77

(1969); Bornman & D.S.Hardy: 129 (1972);

Compton: 99 (1976); B.-E. van Wyk & G.F.Sm.:

188 (1996). Type: KwaZulu-Natal, Mkuzi

Valley, Reynolds 2319 (PRE, holo.!; BOL!).

Plants solitary, stemless, 500-800 mm tall

excluding inflorescence. Leaves ± 20, suberect

to spreading, 360-500 x 70-130 mm, slightly

channelled, often narrowing slightly near base,

upper surface with many whitish spots irregular-

ly arranged or in wavy transverse bands, lower

surface without spots, with obscure lines.

Inflorescence with 20—40 ultimate branches, up

to 2 m tall; racemes cylindric, lax; bracts del-

toid-cirrhous, often rolled or twisted, 17-25 x

2. 5-4.0 mm, 7-many-nerved. Flowers dull

greyish red with bloom, 3 1 — 42 mm long, sub-

clavate above basal constriction; outer segments

free for 4-6 mm, inner segments dorsal ly adnate

to outer; pedicels 8-15 mm long, lengthening

slightly in fruit. Anthers exserted up to 3 mm.

Ovary 5.0-10.0 x 2. 5-4.0 mm, green; style

exserted up to 3 mm. Fruit 20-30 x 1 1-16 mm,

buff. Flowering time February to March.

Aloe dewetii is found in Swaziland and

KwaZulu-Natal, where it grows in windswept

grassland in the middleveld. The area in which

it occurs is fairly cold in winter. The soil is

heavy and the rainfall high, with a summer

maximum. Map 39.

The very shiny leaf surfaces distinguish this

species from other maculates. The teeth on the

leaf margins and the basal swellings of the

flowers are the largest in the section. The inflo-

rescence is the tallest in the section.

This species is named after Mr J.F. de Wet,

who was headmaster of the Vryheid Junior

School at the time of the first description of the

plant. Mr De Wet collected some of the original

material {De Wet in Reynolds 2321 and possibly

the type) from which the species was described.

Vouchers: Compton 28788 (NBG, PRE);

Gerstner 3898 (PRE); Nichols 731 (NH, PRE);

Ward 2147 (NH, PRE).

54. Aloe parvibracteata Schdnland in

Records of the Albany Museum 2: 139 (1907);

A. Berger: 330 (1908); Reynolds: 276 (1950);

Jeppe: 71 (1969); Bornman & D.S.Hardy: 141

(1972); West: 52 (1974); Compton: 101 (1976);

B. -E. van Wyk & G.F.Sm.: 212 (1996). Type:

Mozambique, Maputo, Burtt Davy 2853 (GRA!).

A. burgersfortensis Reynolds: 31 (1936f): Reynolds: 274

(1950); Jeppe: 90 (1969); Bornman & D.S.Hardy: 139

(1972); B.-E. van Wyk & G.F.Sm.: 186 (1996). Type:

Mpumalanga, Lydenburg District. Reynolds 1465 (PRE,

holo.!; BOL!).

62

ALOACEAE: Aloe

A. pongolensis Reynolds: t. 603 ( 1 936h): Reynolds: 45

(1937a). Type: KwaZulu-Natal, near Pongola, Reynolds

1101 (PRE!).

A. pongolensis Reynolds var. zuluensis Reynolds: 46

(1937a). A. parvibracteata Schonland var. zuluensis

(Reynolds) Reynolds: 278 (1950); Jeppe: 71 (1969);

Bomman & D.S. Hardy: 141 (1972). Type: KwaZulu-Natal.

White Umfolozi Valley, Reynolds 2017 (PRE).

A. keithii Reynolds: 47 (1937a); Reynolds: 278 (1950);

Jeppe: 72 (1969); Bomman & D.S. Hardy: 143 (1972);

Compton: 100 (1976). Type: Swaziland, south of Siteki,

Reynolds 1983 (PRE, holo.!; SRGH!).

A. lusitanica Groenew.: 13 (1937b); Glen, G.F.Sm. &

D.S. Hardy: 98 (1995). Lectotype: Mozambique, Maputo,

F.Z. van der Merwe PRE24087 (PRE!).

Plants stemless or very short-stemmed,

200-400 mm tall excluding inflorescence, suck-

ering freely to form large, dense groups. Leaves

10-15 per rosette, spreading to decurved,

300-500 x 30-80 mm, slightly channelled, upper

surface with many whitish spots in irregular

transverse bands, lower surface usually un-

spotted. Inflorescence with 4—9 ultimate branch-

es, 1.0-1 .5 m tall; racemes cylindric, sublax;

bracts deltoid-cirrhous, ± 9-12 x 3 mm. 5-7-

nerved. Flowers dull red, 24—33 mm long, mouth

downtumed; outer segments free for 8-10 mm,

inner segments dorsally adnate to outer; pedicels

7-17 mm long. Anthers exserted 1-2 mm. Ovary

7.0-10.0 x 2. 5-3.5 mm, green; style exserted 1-2

mm. Fruit 20-23 x 11-13 mm, purplish brown.

Flowering time June to July.

Found in the Northern Province, Mpuma-

langa, Swaziland, and KwaZulu-Natal; also in

Mozambique and Zimbabwe. The typical habi-

tat of A. parvibracteata is hot, thorny lowveld,

and in similar thorny woodland in the Lebombo

Mountains. It has no specific requirements for

soil, being found to grow equally well on heavy

clay and in cracks in rock. Map 40.

In this species the leaf sap usually dries pur-

plish violet, but exceptional specimens with sap

drying golden yellow are known. Differences

between this species and its close allies A.

greatheadii (no. 46) and A. greenii (no. 49) are

discussed under those species. A. parvibractea-

ta is most usefully separated from A. zebrina

(no. 56) by the flowering season (winter — July,

not autumn — March) and the leaf sap drying

purple not yellow, but both of these characters

are known to break down. This species is part of

a complex that requires detailed investigation.

Although the typical form of this species has

bracts that are unusually small for a maculate

aloe (hence the name), plants more commonly

have long, narrow bracts.

The Ronga name imanga is recorded on the

specimen Mogg 27147 (J, K). The Bakone of

Sekhukhuneland (Lebowa) use the heated leaf

as a poultice on sores (Watt & Breyer-Brand-

wijk 1963). Anderson & Pooley (1977) record

that leaves and fruits of this species are occa-

sionally eaten by nyala (Tragelaphus angasi) in

the Ndumu Game Reserve.

Vouchers: Buitendag 839 (NBG, PRE): Leach

9839 (PRE); Miller SI 13 (PRE); Reynolds 1474

(PRE); Van der Schijff 614 (PRE).

Hybrid:

A. parvibracteata x A. greatheadii var.

davyana (no. 46b). See A. greatheadii var.

davyana.

55. Aloe simii Pole Evans in Transactions

of the Royal Society of South Africa 5; 704

(1917); Reynolds: 280 (1950); Jeppe: 79

ALOACEAE: Aloe

63

(1969); Bornman & D.S. Hardy: 145 (1972); B.-

E. van Wyk & G.F.Sm.: 220 (1996). Type: Mpu-

malanga, near Sabie, Sim 137 (PRE!).

Plants stemless, 250-400 mm tall excluding

inflorescence, usually solitary. Leaves 15-20,

erectly spreading, 350-600 x 80-120 mm,

deeply channelled to U-shaped in section, pale

green, usually unspotted, obscurely lined on

both surfaces. Inflorescence with ± 15 ultimate

branches, 1.0-1. 5 m tall; racemes cylindric, lax;

bracts narrowly deltoid-acuminate, 17-20 x

2. 0-3. 5 mm, 3-7-nerved. Flowers strawberry-

pink, 27-40 mm long, subclavate above basal

constriction; outer segments free for 9-12 mm,

inner segments mostly dorsally adnate to outer;

pedicels 9-15 mm long, lengthening slightly in

fruit. Anthers exserted 1-3 mm. Ovary 5-8 x

2-4 mm, green; style exserted 1-3 mm. Fruit

21-30 x 12-17 mm. Flowering time February

to March.

Aloe simii is endemic to Mpumalanga where

it grows in open woodland, in areas with a lush

grass understorey. The temperatures and rainfall

are fairly high, and the soils are heavy loam and

clay. Map 41.

The leaves of this species are deeply chan-

nelled into a U-shape in section; this character

and the milky green colour of the leaves sepa-

rate it from all others in the section. The leaves

Map 41 . — • Aloe simii

★ A. angolensis

are generally suberect, which is unusual in this

section.

This species is named after Dr T.R. Sim

(1858-1938), a noted horticulturist and botanist

who collected extensively in the Eastern Cape

and KwaZulu-Natal. His works on southern

African bryophytes and the forests of the Cape

Colony and Portuguese East Africa, as the terri-

tories were then called, laid the foundations of

these branches of study (Gunn & Codd 1981).

Vouchers: Henderson 1610 (NBG); Leach

306 (K, PRE, SRGH); Reynolds 2283 (PRE);

Van der Merwe 14 (PRE).

56. Aloe zebrina Baker in Transactions of

the Linnean Society of London 1: 264 (1878b);

Baker: 464 (1898a); Rendle: 45 (1899); A.Ber-

ger: 207 (1908); Reynolds: 281 (1950);

Reynolds: 89 (1966); Jeppe: 87 (1969); Solch,

Roessler & Merxm.: 19 (1970); Bornman &

D.S. Hardy: 147 (1972); West: 49 (1974); Jan-

kowitz: 12 (1975); B.-E. van Wyk & G.F.Sm.:

232 (1996). Type: Angola, Cacuaco, Welwitsch

3721 (LISU, lecto.; BM!, K; designated by

Reynolds 1966).

A. platyphylla Baker: 264 (1878b): Baker: 463 (1898a);

A. Berger: 207 (1908). Type: Angola, Pungo Andongo,

Welwitsch 3722 (K, lecto.!; BM!, LISU).

A. constricta Baker: 168 (1880a); Baker: 464 (1898a);

Reynolds: 523 (1966). Type: Mozambique, near Sena, Kirk

34 ( K).

A. transvaalensis Kuntze: 314 (1898); A. Berger: 211

( 1908); Reynolds: 1 14 (1936a); Pole Evans: t. 636 ( 1936h);

Reynolds: 272 (1950); Jeppe: 97 (1969); Bornman &

D.S. Hardy: 137 (1972). Type: Gauteng, Pretoria, Kuntze

s.n. (NY, holo.; K!; PRE. photo.!).

A. lugardiana Baker: 135 (1901b); A. Berger: 207 (1908).

Type: Botswana. Botletle River, E.J. Lugard s.n. (K).

A. baumii Engl. & Gilg in Warb.: 191 (1903); A. Berger:

226 (1904); Hemsley: t. 7948 (1904). Type: Angola.

Chirumbu, Baum 275 (B).

A. bamangwatensis Schonland: 122 (1904). Type:

Botswana, Palapye Road, Schonland GRAA7223 (GRA!).

64

ALOACEAE: Aloe

A. laxissima Reynolds: 28 (1936f); Jeppe: 98 (1969);

Bomman & D.S. Hardy: 135 (1972). Type: Northern

Province, near Nebo. Reynolds 167 (PRE. holo.!: BOL!).

A. ammophila Reynolds: 116 (1936a): Reynolds: 270

(1950); Jeppe: 99 (1969); Bomman & D.S. Hardy: 133

(1972). Type: Northern Province, Pietersburg, Reynolds

1345 (PRE!).

A. komatiensis Reynolds: 120 (1936a); Reynolds: 254

(1950); Jeppe: 73 (1969); Bomman & D.S. Hardy: 117

(1972). Type: Mpumalanga, Komatipoort, Reynolds 1543

(PRE. holo.!; BOL!).

A. lettyae Reynolds: 137 (1937c); Reynolds: t. 764

(1940a): Reynolds: 259 (1950): Jeppe: 78 (1969): Bomman

& D.S. Hardy: 121 (1972): B.-E. van Wyk & G.F.Sm.: 202

(1996). Type: Northern Province, Duiwelskloof, Reynolds

2339 (PRE. holo.!: BOL!).

A. vandermerwei Reynolds: 268 (1950): Jeppe: 88 ( 1969);

Bornman & D.S. Hardy: 131 (1972). Type: Northern

Province, Gravelotte, F.Z. van der Merwe PRE21288

(PRE!).

Plants stemless or short-stemmed. 150-300

mm tall excluding inflorescence, suckering

freely to form large, dense groups. Leaves

15-25 per rosette, narrowly ensiform, 200-600

x 35-80 mm. slightly channelled, upper surface

with many whitish spots, usually in irregular

transverse bands, lower surface with few to

many spots. Inflorescence with 6-many ulti-

mate branches, 1.0-1. 7 m tall; racemes cylin-

dric, elongate, lax, terminal; bracts deltoid-cir-

rhous, ± 5-12 x 2 mm. 3-many-nerved.

Flowers very pale to deep pink, dull or glossy,

20-30 mm long, mouth straight; outer segments

free for 5-7 mm, inner segments adnate to

outer; pedicels 6-1 1 mm long, lengthening to ±

15 mm in fruit. Anthers exserted up to 3 mm.

Ovary ± 8 x 2-3 mm, green; style exserted up to

3 mm. Fruit 21-38 x 13-18 mm, greyish pur-

plish brown. Seeds charcoal-grey, ± 6.0 x 3.0 x

1.5 mm, with conspicuous brown wing.

Flowering time mostly February to April, but

plants flowering as early as November and as

late as May have been recorded.

Aloe zebrina is widely distributed, and

occurs in a variety of veld types and on a vari-

ety of soils in Namibia. Botswana, the Northern

Province, North-West, Gauteng, Mpumalanga

and Swaziland; also in Angola, Zambia, Mala-

wi, Mozambique and Zimbabwe. Temperatures

are usually high in summer but may, in parts of

its range, become very low in winter. Rainfall in

the distribution area of this species is high in the

extreme northwest, but low elsewhere, with a

summer maximum throughout. Map 42.

Although superficially similar to A. great-

headii (no. 46), this species is useless to bees as

the flower is too narrow to admit them. Other

characters separating this species from A. great-

headii and A. panhbracteata (no. 54) are dis-

cussed under those species. A. zebrina is a

member of a difficult complex which would

repay intensive study.

The specific epithet refers to the leaves, on

which the spots are arranged in irregular trans-

verse bands giving the appearance of stripes

like a zebra’s. Common names recorded for this

species include edundu (Kwanyama), /ganya

(!ho), //noru, //nuru, and /gikwe (Naro). The

flowers are boiled and eaten fresh or dried in

Owambo, where the plant is said to have been

brought from Angola.

Vouchers: Dyer 3186 (PRE); Giess 11482

(PRE); Huntley 1225 (PRE); Meeuse 10236

(LISC, PRE); Reynolds 8987 (PRE).

Hybrids:

1. A. zebrina x A. swynnertonii (no. 44). See

A. swynnertonii.

ALOACEAE: Aloe

65

2. A. zebrina x A. littoralis (no. 114) (- A.

angolensis Baker). This species of hybrid origin

is discussed fully below.

57. Aloe angolensis Baker in Transactions

of the Linnean Society of London 1: 263

(1878b); Baker: 466 (1898a); Rendle: 44

(1899); A. Berger: 239 (1908); Reynolds: 310

(1966). Type: Angola, Barra do Bengo,

Welwitsch 3728 (BM, holo.; LISU).

A. esculenta L.C. Leach: 249 (1971); D.S. Hardy: 521

(1974); Jankowitz: 10 (1975). Type: Angola, Leach &

Cannell 13818 (PRE, holo.!; BM. LISC!, SRGH!).

Plants stemless or short-stemmed, 0. 3-1.0 m

tall excluding inflorescence, usually solitary,

sometimes suckering. Leaves 15-25 per rosette,

narrowly ensiform, 500-700 x 40-80 mm,

slightly channelled, with few to many whitish

spots irregularly arranged on upper surface

only. Inflorescence with 3-7 ultimate branches,

1.0-2. 2 m tall; racemes cylindric, subdense;

bracts deltoid-cirrhous, 11-12 x 3-4 mm,

many-nerved. Flowers pink to yellow or cream-

coloured, 21-32 mm long, mouth straight; outer

segments free for 15-18 mm, inner segments

adnate to outer; pedicels 4-6 mm long, length-

ening to ± 13 mm in fruit. Anthers exserted up

to 2 mm. Ovary 5-7 x 2-3 mm, green; style

exserted up to 5 mm. Fruit ± 20 x 12 mm.

Flowering time June to August.

Aloe angolensis is found in Namibia and

Botswana; also in Angola and Zambia. It occurs

typically but not exclusively in semidesert

grassland on Kalahari sand, which may be

flooded in summer and completely without sur-

face water in winter. Winter temperatures in its

area of distribution are relatively high. Map 41.

This species is placed here immediately after

one of its putative parents, as it keys out to this

section more easily than to section 23, Pachy-

dendron , to which the other parent species

belongs. The parentage is thought to be A. zeb-

rina (no. 56) x A. littoralis (no. 1 14). The spots

on the leaves of this species are far less regular-

ly arranged than in any other member of this

section, and it fairly often develops a short erect

stem. Flower characters are intermediate be-

tween those of the two putative parent species.

The specific epithet records that the type

specimen was collected in Angola.

Vouchers: Giess 13726 (PRE, WIND); Leach

12294 (PRE); Reynolds 2423 (PRE); Smith

1412 (PRE); Story 5135 (PRE).

58. Aloe grandidentata Salm-Dyck, Ob-

servationes botanicae in Horto Dyckensi 3: 3

(1822); Salm-Dyck: 23, t. 4 (1854); Baker: 314

(1896a); A. Berger: 215 (1908); Pole Evans: t.

286 (1928c); Reynolds: 285 (1950); Jeppe: 100

(1969); Bornman & D.S. Hardy: 149 ( 1972); B.-

E. van Wyk & G.F.Sm.: 194 (1996). Iconotype:

Salm-Dyck, Monographia generum Aloes et

Mesembryanthemi: 23, t. 4 (1854).

Plants stemless or very short-stemmed,

150-300 mm tall excluding inflorescence, suck-

ering freely to form large groups. Leaves 10-20

per rosette, 100-250 x 35-75 mm, both surfaces

with many whitish spots in irregular undulating

transverse bands. Inflorescence with 4-7 ulti-

mate branches, ± 900 mm tall; racemes dense,

conical, not secund; bracts narrowly deltoid-

acuminate, 8-10 x 3-4 mm, 1-5-nerved.

Flowers dull reddish, 19-30 mm long, clavate

above constriction above ovary; outer segments

free for 6-10 mm, inner segments dorsally

adnate to outer; pedicels 5-13 mm long.

Anthers exserted up to 5 mm. Ovary 6. 0-9.0 x

1 .5-3.0 mm, olive-green; style exserted up to 5

mm. Fruit 22-25 x 9-11 mm, greenish.

Flowering time August to September.

Found in Botswana, North-West, the Free

State and the Northern, Western and Eastern

Cape. In the west of its range, A. grandidentata

occurs in karroid scrub on ironstone ridges, but

further east it occurs on calcrete as well.

Rainfall and winter temperatures throughout its

range are low. Map 43.

The clavate flowers distinguish this species

from all other members of the section. This

species does not grow in populations mixed

with any other maculate aloes; geographical

66

ALOACEAE: Aloe

Figure 9. — Section Pictae. Aloe monotropa: 1. upper portion of inflorescence showing the terminal and one lateral

raceme; 2, leaf; 3, bract from base of one of the lower branches of inflorescence; 4, longitudinal section of flower, x 1.6; 5,

habit, much reduced. Taken from Verdoorn (1961a).

ALOACEAE: Aloe

67

Map 43. — • Aloe grandidentata

★ A. monotropa

▲ A. prinslooi

distribution can therefore be used to distinguish

it from others of the genus.

Salm-Dyck (1822) was evidently so impress-

ed by the large marginal teeth of the leaves of

this species that his name for it draws attention

to them. However, they are no larger than those

of many other maculates.

Vouchers: Henrici 1835 (PRE); Leistner

1434 (PRE); Muller 1020 (PRE); Plowes 3216

(PRE, SRGH, STE); Reynolds 1571 (NH, PRE,

SAM).

Hybrids:

1. A. grandidentata x A. broomii var.

broomii (no. 26a). See A. broomii.

2. A. grandidentata x A. maculata (no. 45).

See A. maculata.

3. A. grandidentata x A. claviflora (no. 70).

Vouchers: Broom s.n. (GRA); Reynolds 985

(BOL).

4. A. grandidentata x A. hereroensis var.

hereroensis (no. 76a). Vouchers: H. Hall 930

(NBG); Reynolds 977 (BOL).

59. Aloe monotropa I.Verd. in The

Flowering Plants of Africa 34: t. 1342 (1961a);

Jeppe: 101 (1969); Bornman & D.S. Hardy: 93

(1972); D.S. Hardy: 511 (1974); B.-E. van Wyk

& G.F.Sm.: 208 (1996). Type: Northern Pro-

vince, Dublin Mine, Smuts 1560 (PRE!).

Plants 200-300 mm tall excluding inflores-

cence, stemless or short-stemmed; stem usually

prostrate, solitary or suckering to form small

groups. Leaves ± 20 per rosette, spreading,

340-400 x 45-60 mm, slightly channelled, nar-

rowed towards base, upper surface with lines

and irregular pale green spots, lower surface lin-

eate and more distinctly spotted. Inflorescence

with ± 1 1 ultimate branches; racemes secund,

sublax, cylindric; bracts narrowly deltoid-

acuminate, 6. 0-8.0 x 1.0-2. 5 mm, 3-nerved.

Flowers old rose, rarely yellow, 22-30 mm long,

subclavate; outer segments free for 5-7 mm,

inner segments dorsally adnate to outer in lower

half; pedicels 7-11 mm long. Anthers not or

hardly exserted. Ovary ± 5.0 x 1.5 mm, green;

style exserted up to 2 mm. Fruit ± 15-20 x 1 1

mm, dark grey-brown. Seeds ± 3.0 x 1.5 x 1.0

mm, narrowly winged, almost black. Flowering

time November to December. Figure 9.

Aloe monotropa grows on rocky slopes on

the lateral mountain chains associated with the

escarpment in the Northern Province. It occurs

in deep shade to semishade in forests and on

forest margins, in an area of very high, mostly

summer rainfall. Map 43.

The secund racemes of this species are

unique in section Pictae , and recall section 21.

Ortholophae. However, the spotted leaves and

basal inflation of the flower make it quite clear

that this species belongs to this section. The

spots on the leaves are more irregularly ar-

ranged than in any other species in this section

except A. angolensis (no. 57).

The specific epithet is derived from two

Greek words which may be translated as ‘one in

a bundle’ or ‘one of a kind’. The allusion is to

the combination of secund racemes (characteris-

tic of section Ortholophae) with spotted leaves

and inflated flower bases (characteristic of sec-

tion Pictae). This combination is unique in Aloe.

68

ALOACEAE: Aloe

Voucher: Smuts 1560 (PRE).

60. Aloe prinslooi l.Verd. & D.S. Hardy in

The Flowering Plants of Africa 37: t. 1453

(1965); Jeppe: 102 (1969); Bomman & D.S. Har-

dy: 91 (1972); D.S. Hardy: 513 (1974); B.-E.

van Wyk & G.F.Sm.: 216 (1996). Type:

KwaZulu-Natal, near Colenso, Hardy 1907

(PRE!).

Plants stemless, 150-250 mm tall excluding

inflorescence, usually solitary. Leaves 16-30,

140-200 x 40-80 mm, biconvex to slightly

channelled, both surfaces with few to many

white spots, usually irregular, sometimes in

transverse bands, denser on upper surface.

Inflorescence with 2-5 ultimate branches, ± 600

mm tall; racemes dense, capitate; bracts deltoid-

cirrhous, 15-30 x 3-5 mm, ± 7-nerved. Flowers

greenish white becoming tinged with pink,

13-17 mm long; segments free for almost half

their length; pedicels 12-30 mm long, erect.

Anthers not or hardly exserted. Ovary 4.0-10.0

x 2.0-2. 5 mm, green; style not or hardly exsert-

ed. Fruit 14—18 x 10-12 mm, grey. Seeds ± 4.0

x 2.5 x 1.0 mm, hardly winged, brown.

Flowering time August to September.

Aloe prinslooi occurs in the dense grass

understorey of open woodland in the KwaZulu-

Natal midlands. The soil is thin, the rainfall rel-

atively low, the summers are hot and the winters

very cold. Map 43.

The very dense, almost spherical racemes of

small, whitish flowers distinguish this species

from all others in this section. Sterile specimens

are easily confused with A. maculata (no. 45),

and there seems to be no vegetative character

that distinguishes unambiguously between

these two species.

This species is named after its discoverer, Mr

G.J. Prinsloo, a keen amateur grower of aloes.

Voucher: Hardy 1909 (PRE).

10. Section Paniculatae

Section Paniculatae Salm-Dyck ex Kunth, Enumeratio plantarum 4: 522 (1843). Type species: A.

striata Haw.

Series Striatae Reynolds: 114 (1940b).

Series Paniculatae Salm-Dyck ex Kunth, Reynolds: 294 (1950).

Plants solitary, stemless or short-stemmed; stems usually prostrate. Leaves rosulate; broad,

ovate-lanceolate, slightly channelled to D-shaped in section, surfaces striate, sometimes also with

irregular whitish spots, margins entire or minutely dentate. Inflorescence a much-branched panicle;

sterile bracts only subtending branches; racemes dense to lax, conical. Flowers with a subglobose

basal swelling, then cylindric to subclavate; outer segments connate for most of their length.

Anthers not or hardly exserted. Style not or hardly exserted.

la Leaves striate, unspotted 61. A. striata

lb Leaves with spots, sometimes striate as well:

2a Leaves fleshy, narrow (4—5 times as long as wide); flowers orange-red; plants indigenous

to the Northern Cape 63. A. buhrii

2b Leaves leathery, broad (2-3 times as long as wide); flowers yellow tinged orange;

plants indigenous to the Eastern Cape 62. A. reynoldsii

Plants in this section resemble one another in their stemless habit, broad, relatively flat leaves

and much-branched inflorescences. The leaves are lined and may be spotted as well. In section 7,

ALOACEAE: Aloe

69

Rhodacanthae, the leaves are also lined, but are narrower and distinctly dentate, not entire to

minutely crenulate or denticulate. Plants of section Rhodacanthae have simple to 2- or 3-branched

inflorescences, not the many-branched inflorescences characteristic of this section.

61. Aloe striata Haw. in Transactions of

the Linnean Society of London 7: 18 (1804);

W.T.Aiton: 295 (1811); Haw.: 81 (1812); Haw.:

44 (1819); Baker: 311 (1896a); A. Berger: 196

(1908); Pole Evans: t. 55 (1922a); Reynolds:

113 (1940b); Reynolds: 294 (1950); Jeppe: 63

(1969); Bornman & D.S. Hardy: 151 (1972);

Glen & G.F.Sm.: 40 (1995); B.-E. van Wyk &

G.F.Sm.: 162 (1996). Neotype: Eastern Cape,

near Grahamstown, Bottomley PRE27 (PRE!).

A. paniculata Jacq.: 48, t. 68 (1809); Schult. & Schult.f.:

691 (1829). Iconotype: Jacq.: 48, t. 68 (1809).

A. albocincta Haw.: 43 (1819); Haw.: 40 ( 1821 ); Hook.f.:

t. 5210 ( I860). No type cited.

A. hanburiana Naud.: 165 (1875). No type cited.

A. striata Haw. var. oligospila Baker: 588 ( 1894); Baker:

312 (1896a). Type: Eastern Cape, no precise locality.

Cooper s.n. (Kl).

Plants 300-700 mm tall excluding inflores-

cence, stemless or with decumbent stems up to

1 m long; rarely with stem branched. Leaves

12-20, 300-500 x 70-200 mm, glaucous to

somewhat reddish tinged, striate, not spotted,

margins entire, horny, pale pink. Inflorescence

up to + 1 m tall; racemes dense, conical to capi-

tate; bracts deltoid-acute, 5-10 x 3-4 mm, ± 5-

nerved. Flowers coral-red, rarely yellow, 19-30

mm long; outer segments free for 4-8 mm,

inner segments dorsally adnate to outer;

pedicels 8-25 mm long. Anthers exserted up to

2 mm. Ovary 6. 0-9.0 x 1 .5-3.0 mm, pale green;

style exserted up to 2 mm. Fruit 16-20 x 9-12

mm, grey-brown. Seeds ±3x2x1 mm, black

with narrow brown wing. Figure 10.

Differences between this species on the one

hand and A. buhrii (no. 63) and A. reynoldsii

(no. 62) on the other, are discussed under those

species.

The specific epithet refers to the more or less

conspicuous pale longitudinal lines or striae on

the leaves.

Three subspecies are recognised:

1 a Racemes lax; plants indigenous to the

Northern Cape and Namibia

61c. subsp. karasbergensis

lb Racemes dense:

2a Leaf margins white to yellow; flowers

yellow; flowering season Decem-

ber to January; plants indigenous

to Namaqualand

61b. subsp. komaggasensis

2b Leaf margins pink; flowers usually

red; flowering season August to

October; plants indigenous to the

Eastern and southern Cape

61a. subsp. striata

61a. subsp. striata.

Description as for species. Flowering time

August to October.

This subspecies is endemic to the Eastern

and southern Cape and occurs in a variety of

habitats, from valley bushveld to bare, stony

hillsides in grassland. Rainfall, temperatures

and soils vary widely in the area where this sub-

species is quite common. The pink, horny leaf

margins and the spring (August to October), not

summer (December to March) flowering season

separate the typical subspecies from the other

two recognised here. Map 44.

The common name coral aloe is recorded for

this species (Reynolds 1950).

Vouchers: Dahlstrand 1239 (J, STE); Galpin

2619 (PRE); Marloth 5953 (PRE); Muller 699

(PRE); Reynolds 5493 (NH, PRE).

Hybrids:

1 . A. striata subsp. striata x A. maculata (no.

45). See A. maculata.

70

ALOACEAE: Aloe

K.A Lansdell del

Figure 10. — Section Paniculatae. Aloe striata: 1. plant showing characteristic habit; 2, transverse section of leaf; 3,

flower; 4, bract; 5, stamen; 6, young fruit; 7, inflorescence. Taken from Pole Evans (1922a).

ALOACEAE: Aloe

71

Map 44. — 9 Aloe striata subsp. striata

★ A. striata subsp. komaggasensis

▲ A. striata subsp. karasbergensis

2. A. striata subsp. striata x A. africana (no.

109) . Voucher: Reynolds 1590 (PRE).

3. A. striata subsp. striata x A. fero.x (no.

110) . Voucher: Glen 1513 (PRE).

61b. subsp. komaggasensis (Kritzinger &

Van Jaarsv.) Glen & D.S. Hardy in South

African Journal of Botany 53: 491 (1987a).

A. komaggasensis Kritzinger & Van Jaarsv., in Van

Jaarsv.: 287 (1985). Type: Northern Cape, Komaggas,

Kritzinger 12 (NBG, holo.l; PRE!).

Leaf margins white to yellowish. Racemes

capitate; bracts deltoid, 8-15 x 2-6 mm.

Flowers yellow. Anthers hardly exserted. Ovary

±5x2 mm; style hardly exserted. Fruit ± 20 x

10 mm. Flowering time December to January.

Other characters as for subsp. striata.

Endemic to hillside succulent karoo in

Namaqualand. The type locality of this sub-

species is in an area of marginal renosterbos veld

grading into succulent karoo. The soil is clayey

with many stones. Rainfall is erratic in quantity

and season, but peaks in winter. Map 44.

The yellow flowers, obscure striations on the

leaves and denticulate leaf margins separate this

subspecies from the other two recognised here.

Sometimes the leaves of this subspecies have a

few obscure spots, suggesting an affinity with

A. buhrii (no. 63).

This subspecies is named after the nearest

settlement to its type locality. Komaggas is a

small village in Namaqualand, almost due west

of Springbok, the main centre of the area.

Voucher: Kritzinger 12 (NBG. PRE).

61c. subsp. karasbergensis (Pillans) Glen

& D.S. Hardy in South African Journal of

Botany 53: 491 (1987a).

A. karasbergensis Pillans: 233 ( 1928); Pole Evans: t. 720

(1938b); Reynolds: 113 (1940b); Reynolds: 297 (1950);

Jeppe: 64 (1969); Solch, Roessler & Merxm.: 17 (1970);

Bomman & D.S. Hardy: 153 (1972); Jankowitz: 46 (1975).

Type: Northern Cape, Richtersveld, Pillans 5848 (BOL!).

Plants usually stemless. Leaf margins dull

white, entire, sometimes crenulate. Inflorescence

500-600 mm tall; racemes lax, conical; bracts

deltoid, 3.0-6. 0 x 2. 5-3.0 mm; pedicels 6-12

mm long. Flowers pink to pale coral-red; outer

segments free for 5-6 mm. Anthers exserted

1-2 mm. Ovary 6. 0-7.0 x 2. 5-3.0 mm, green;

style exserted 1-2 mm. Fruit ± 18 x 13 mm.

Flowering time January to March.

This subspecies is found in Namibia and the

Northern Cape, where it grows on semidesert

sand and stony mountain slopes in areas with

very low and erratic rainfall. In different parts

of its range, peak rainfall is received in summer

or in winter. Map 44.

The short, lax inflorescences of this sub-

species distinguish it from the other two recog-

nised here. Usually the leaf margins in this sub-

species are entire, like in subsp. striata, but

sometimes they are crenulate, recalling subsp.

komaggasensis. Some populations of subsp.

karasbergensis frequently sucker (particularly

those from the Sperrgebiet, Namibia).

The subspecific epithet recalls the locality

where one of the two first specimens ( Pearson

in PSME7966 , not the type) was collected. One

72

ALOACEAE: Aloe

of the Percy Sladen Memorial Expeditions was

to the Great Karasberg, an almost inaccessible

mountain range in southern Namibia. It was on

this expedition that Pearson made the specimen

cited above.

Vouchers: Acocks 16397 (BM, PRE); Giess

10438 (MO, PRE, WIND); Hardy 2274 (PRE);

Pearson 7966 (BOL, K, SAM, STE); Van der

Mem>e 1406 (PRE, SAM).

62. Aloe reynoldsii Petty in The Flowering

Plants of South Africa 14: t. 558 (1934c);

Reynolds: 113 (1940b); Reynolds: 299 (1950);

Jeppe: 65 (1969); Bornman & D.S. Hardy: 155

(1972); B.-E. van Wyk & G.F.Sm.: 160 (1996).

Type: Eastern Cape, near Idutywa, Reynolds

140 (= PRE 1664 5) (PRE, holo.!; BOL!).’

Plants stemless or short-stemmed, 300-600

mm tall excluding inflorescence; stems branch-

ed into small groups. Leaves 16-20 per rosette,

160-350 x 75-120 mm, lined, glaucous green

with dull white spots, margins horny, minutely

denticulate. Inflorescence a 400-600 mm tall

panicle; racemes sublax, subcapitate; bracts del-

toid-acuminate, 5-10 x 2-4 mm, 3-5-nerved.

Flowers yellow tinged orange, 22-30 mm long,

funnel-shaped above constriction above ovary;

outer segments free for 4-5 mm, inner segments

adnate to outer; pedicels 14-25 mm long.

Anthers exserted 1-2 mm. Ovary ±7x2 mm;

style exserted 1-2 mm. Fruit ± 22 x 10 mm.

Flowering time September to October.

Aloe reynoldsii occurs in a region of much

higher rainfall than other members of this sec-

tion. It is restricted to cracks in rock in sheer

cliffs in a small part of the Eastern Cape. Map 45.

The leaves of A. reynoldsii are thinner than

any others in the section and are lined with

numerous scattered H-shaped spots. The pink

cartilaginous leaf margins have distinct but

minute teeth. Plants of this species branch and

rebranch to form clumps, a character not found

in other species of the section.

Map 45. — • Aloe reynoldsii

★ A. buhrii

This species is named after Dr G.W. Rey-

nolds, whose contributions to the study of the

genus Aloe are greater than those of any other

individual botanist.

Vouchers: Reynolds PRE39393 (PRE); Stav-

ner NBG498/58 (NBG).

63. Aloe buhrii Lavranos in Journal of

South African Botany 37: 37 (1971); Bornman

& D.S. Hardy: 289 (1972); D.S.Hardy: 520

(1974); B.-E. van Wyk & G.F.Sm.: 126 (1996).

Type: Northern Cape, Calvinia, Buhr & Lavra-

nos 8163 (PRE!).

Plants stemless, ± 300 mm tall excluding

inflorescence, forming small groups. Leaves ±

1 6, arcuate-erect to spreading, 200-400 x 40-90

mm, spotted, margins horny, pale red, minutely

denticulate. Inflorescence a panicle up to 600

mm tall; racemes dense, subcapitate; bracts del-

toid-acute, 5-10 x 2-4 mm, 3-5-nerved.

Flowers orange-red, 16-25 mm long; outer seg-

ments free for 4—7 mm, inner segments adnate

to outer; pedicels 9-25 mm long. Anthers

exserted 1-3 mm. Ovary 4. 0-5.0 x 2.0-2. 5 mm,

pale green; style exserted 3-6 mm. Fruit not

seen. Flowering time July.

Aloe buhrii is endemic to the Northern Cape

and occurs near the top of mountains in the win-

ALOACEAE: Aloe

73

ter-rainfall area. It grows on Malmesbury

shales, in an area with mild winters and hot

summers. Map 45.

The leaves of A. buhrii are more conspicu-

ously spotted than those of other species in this

section. They are firmer, fleshier and narrower

than those of A. reynoldsii (no. 62). The dense

racemes are similar to those of A. striata subsp.

striata (no. 61a) and subsp. komaggasensis (no.

61b), but differ from those of A. striata subsp.

karasbergensis (no. 61c) and A. reynoldsii. The

colour of the flowers is intermediate between that

of A. striata subsp. striata and the yellow of A.

reynoldsii and A. striata subsp. komaggasensis.

Elias S. Buhr, after whom this species is

named, first recognised it as new. He brought it

to the attention of Mr J.J. Lavranos, who pub-

lished the first description.

Voucher: Anon. PRE58358 (PRE).

1 1 . Section Superpositae

Section Superpositae (Pole Evans) Glen & D.S. Hardy, stat. nov. Type species: A. suprafoliata

Pole Evans.

Series Superpositae Pole Evans in Transactions of the Royal Society of South Africa 5: 604 (1916): Reynolds: 115

(1940b); Reynolds: 302 (1950).

Plants solitary, stemless or caulescent. Leaves rosulate, in one species distichous in young (flow-

ering) plants, lanceolate, very slightly channelled to D-shaped in section, unspotted, sometimes

lined, margins dentate. Inflorescence simple or branched, if simple then with sterile bracts; racemes

dense, cylindric. Perianth cylindric to narrowly ovoid; segments free to variously connate. Anthers

shortly exserted. Style shortly exserted.

la Inflorescence taller than 2 m; plants caulescent 66. A. pretoriensis

lb Inflorescence up to 2 m tall; plants stemless or almost so:

2a Leaves distichous in young plants (up to flowering size); smooth; outer perianth seg-

ments free to base; bracts spathulate 64. A. suprafoliata

2b Leaves rosulate, tuberculate at least in seedling stage; outer perianth segments connate

for at least half their length; bracts ovate 65. A. thorncroftii

Plants in this section have rosulate and obliquely erect or rarely distichous and spreading leaves,

and may be stemless or short-stemmed. They are characterised by large, showy cerise-pink flow-

ers (in southern Africa; A. crassipes, of Zambia and Sudan, has yellow-green flowers) with includ-

ed or shortly exserted anthers and styles.

64. Aloe suprafoliata Pole Evans in Trans-

actions of the Royal Society of South Africa 5:

603 (1916); Pole Evans: t. 733 (1939b);

Reynolds: 115 (1940b); Reynolds: 302 (1950);

Jeppe: 8 (1969); Bornman & D.S. Hardy: 157

(1972); Compton: 102 (1976); B.-E. van Wyk &

G.F.Sm.: 164 (1996). Type: Swaziland, Stegi,

Pole Evans 215 (PRE!).

Plants stemless or short-stemmed, 200-400

mm tall excluding inflorescence. Leaves ± 30,

distichous until first or second flowering, later

rosulate, 250-400 x 50-70 mm, bluish green to

bluish grey, sometimes tinged purplish. Inflores-

cence a simple raceme, 0. 6-2.0 m tall, 2-6 per

rosette; bracts spathulate, 15-20 x 6-13 mm,

many-nerved. Flowers brilliant pink, 33-50

mm long; outer segments free to base, inner

segments adnate to outer for 12-20 mm;

pedicels 14-20 mm long, lengthening to ± 30

mm in fruit. Anthers not or hardly exserted.

Ovary 5. 5-9.0 x 1. 5-3.0 mm, pale olive-green;

74

ALOACEAE: Aloe

Figure 11. — Section Superpositae. Aloe thorncroftii: 1, inflorescence, x 0.8; 2, leaf apex, x 0.8. Taken from Glen &

Hardy (1986).

ALOACEAE: Aloe

75

Map 46. — Aloe suprafoliata

style exserted 1-2 mm. Fruit not seen. Flower-

ing time May to July.

This species is found in Mpumalanga,

Swaziland and KwaZulu-Natal, and usually

occurs in cracks in rock or near sheer cliffs, in

montane grassland or in places where the soil is

absent or too thin to support other vegetation. It

seems to require a humus-rich soil. Map 46.

Aloe suprafoliata differs from its nearest

ally, A. thorncroftii (no. 65), in the following

ways: the leaves of young plants are always dis-

tichous and have smooth, glaucous surfaces; the

flowers of this species, although long and showy,

are not as long or as conspicuous as those of A.

thorncroftii.

The plant from which the original descrip-

tion was drawn up was a young specimen flow-

ering for (in all probability) the first time. In

such plants the distichous leaves appearing

pressed down upon one another are a very con-

spicuous feature, and the specific epithet draws

attention to this.

Vouchers: Code l & Dyer 2911 (PRE); Leach

118 (SRGH); Reynolds 1973 (PRE); Strey 9830

(NH, PRE), Ward 3400 (PRE).

65. Aloe thorncroftii Pole Evans in

Transactions of the Royal Society of South

Africa 5: 709 (1917); Reynolds: 116 (1940b);

Reynolds: 304 (1950); Jeppe: 9 (1969); Born-

man & D.S. Hardy: 159 (1972); Glen & D.S.Har-

dy: t. 1936 (1986); Glen & G.F.Sm.: 41 (1995);

B.-E. van Wyk & G.F.Sm.: 166 (1996). Type:

Mpumalanga, Barberton, Thorncroft PRE247

(PRE!).

Plants stemless or short-stemmed, 250-500

mm tall excluding inflorescence. Leaves rosu-

late, 300-400 x 100-140 mm, bluish grey to

purplish grey. Inflorescence a simple raceme,

0.8- 1.0 m tall, 2-4 per plant; bracts ovate,

15-25 x 6-1 1 mm, many-nerved. Flowers bril-

liant pink, 40-55 mm long; outer segments con-

nate for at least half their length, inner segments

free but adnate to outer for ± two thirds of their

length; pedicels 15-25 mm long, lengthening in

fruit. Anthers not or hardly exserted. Ovary

9.0-12.0 x 2. 0-3. 5 mm; style exserted 1-2 mm.

Fruit ± 20-25 x 10 mm. Flowering time Sep-

tember to October. Figure 1 1 .

Endemic to Mpumalanga and confined to the

Barberton serpentines. Map 47.

The leaves of seedling plants are rough with

small tubercles, but these gradually disappear as

plants mature. The flowers are among the

largest and most striking in the genus. The dark

green, red-tinted colour of the leaves is also

diagnostic in the field.

76

ALOACEAE: Aloe

George Thorncroft, after whom this species

is named, was apprenticed to a firm of grocers

in London. He joined the crowds travelling to

the (eastern) Transvaal goldfields, and arrived

in Barberton in January 1887. Here he ran a

hotel and store for about six years. After a nine-

year spell in Durban, he returned to Barberton

in 1902, and remained there for the rest of his

life. Always a keen gardener, he collected many

plants, including several new species which

were named after him. It seems that the delight-

ful tale that he and E.E. Galpin, another noted

collector in the Transvaal at the time, bounced

about the Barberton hills in a Model T Ford

from one collecting site to the next, is probably

apocryphal.

Vouchers: Hardy 6373 (PRE); Midler 2304

(PRE); Reynolds 2460 (BOL, PRE); Rogers

20250 (J).

66. Aloe pretoriensis Pole Evans in The

Gardeners’ Chronicle 3, 56: 106 (1914); Pole

Evans: 32 (1915); Pole Evans: t. 18 (1921a);

Reynolds: 115 (1940b); Reynolds: 306 (1950);

Jeppe: 10 (1969); Bomman & D.S. Hardy: 161

(1972); West: 71 (1974); B.-E. van Wyk &

G.F.Sm.: 62 (1996). Type: Gauteng, Pretoria,

Pole Evans 12 (PRE!).

Plants caulescent; stem to 1 m tall. Leaves

40-60, suberect to spreading, 300-500 x

40-150 mm, glaucous green. Inflorescence with

5- 8 branches, some of these branched, total

height 2.0-3. 5 m; bracts spathulate, 12-16 x

6- 10 mm, many-nerved. Flowers pale to bright

pink with bloom, 35^45 mm long; all segments

free; pedicels 12^40 mm long. Anthers not or

hardly exserted. Ovary 6-10 x 2-3 mm, deep

green; style exserted 1-5 mm. Fruit not seen.

Flowering time May to June.

Aloe pretoriensis occurs in the Northern

Province, North-West, Gauteng, Mpumalanga

and Swaziland; also in Zimbabwe and on the

Swaziland/Mozambique border. It grows on

highveld ridges, in stony grassland. The area is

mild in summer and cold in winter, with sum-

mer rain. Map 48.

With its tall inflorescence and, often, a short

erect stem, A. pretoriensis can hardly be con-

fused with either A. suprafoliata (no. 64) or A.

thorncroftii (no. 65).

This species is named after the type locality,

which is within the city boundary of Pretoria.

Vouchers: Collins 174 (= TRV8186) (GRA,

PRE); Leendertz 618 (GRA, K, PRE); Marloth

7334 (PRE); Mogg 15031 (PRE); Reynolds

3569 ( PRE).

12. Section Asperifoliae

Section Asperifoliae (A. Berger) Glen & D.S. Hardy, stat. nov. Type species: A. asperifolia

A. Berger.

Series Asperifoliae A. Berger in Botanische Jahrbijcher 36: 47 (1905a): A. Berger: 217 (1908); Reynolds: 3 1 1 ( 1950).

Series Hereroenses Reynolds: 324 ( 1950). Type species: A. hereroensis Engl.

ALOACEAE: Aloe

77

Plants solitary, or in dense groups or ‘fairy rings’, usually stemless. Leaves rosulate, lanceolate,

with rough surfaces, margins dentate. Inflorescence simple or branched, peduncles with or without

sterile bracts; racemes dense to lax, cylindric to capitate. Flowers cylindric to ventricose; segments

connate for ± half their length. Anthers long-exserted. Style long-exserted.

la Bracts ovate to obovate, not deltoid:

2a Plants pendent; inflorescence branched 74. A. dewinteri

2b Plants erect; inflorescence simple:

3a Leaves without surface prickles; flowers clavate 70. A. claviflora

3b Leaves with few surface prickles in median line; flowers ventricose .... 68. A. pachygaster

lb Bracts deltoid to narrowly lanceolate-acuminate:

4a Plants in dense clumps or rings:

5a Inflorescence simple; bracts over 40 mm long 71. A. argenticauda

5b Inflorescence branched; bracts up to 20 mm long:

6a Flower mouth straight; inflorescence with more than 5 branches; bracts over 16 mm

long; plant occurring in Namaqualand and Western Cape 69. A. falcata

6b Flower mouth upturned; inflorescence with 2 or 3 branches; bracts up to 15 mm

long; plant occurring in Namibia 67. A. asperifolia

4b Plants solitary:

7a Plants pendent 73. A. corallina

7b Plants erect:

8a Inflorescence 1.1-1. 5 m tall; flowers yellowish green 75. A. viridiflora

8b Inflorescence 0. 6-1.1 m tall; flowers red or bright yellow:

9a Inflorescence 2^1-branched 72. A. namibensis

9b Inflorescence 20-branched or more 76. A. hereroensis

Species in this section show a series of adaptations to increasing aridity with an increasing pro-

portion of available moisture derived from fog, not rain, starting with A. hereroensis and A. viridi-

flora and ending with A. asperifolia. The leaves are thick, leathery and rough to the touch, and are

often subfalcate because of the oblique disposition of the rosettes, which may be single or clumped.

The inflorescence may be simple or branched, oblique or erect, lax or dense. Flowers are cylindric,

ventricose or clavate, with straight or upturned mouths and exserted anthers and styles. Bracts may

be relatively small and inconspicuous to among the largest in the genus.

67. Aloe asperifolia A. Berger in Botan-

ische Jahrbiicher 36: 63 (1905a); A. Berger: 219

(1908); Reynolds: 312 (1950); Jeppe: 28

(1969); Solch, Roessler & Merxm.: 16 (1970);

Bornman & D.S. Hardy: 163 (1972); Jankowitz:

20 (1975); I.Verd.: t. 1753 (1978a). Type:

Namibia, Zwartbankberge, F. Stapf7 (Z).

Plants in solid groups of 20^10, 150-300

mm tall. Leaves lanceolate, erect, 150-250 x

35-70 mm, greyish to almost white. Inflores-

cence 2- or 3-branched, oblique, 500-750 mm

long; racemes sublax, cylindric; bracts deltoid-

acuminate, 10-15 x 3-4 mm, 3-5-nerved.

Flowers scarlet, 19-28 mm long, mouth

upturned; outer segments free for 6-10 mm.

inner segments dorsally adnate to outer for

12-18 mm; pedicels 5-8 mm long. Anthers

exserted 3-10 mm. Ovary 6-8 x 2-3 mm, deep

olive-green; style exserted 3-10 mm. Fruit ± 20

x 13 mm, subglobose, pale grey-brown.

Flowering time March to May.

Aloe asperifolia is endemic to northern

Namibia and occurs on limestone and conglom-

erate in parts of the Namib Desert which are not

only devoid of other plant life, but almost

devoid of soil. Most of the moisture available to

plants of this species is derived from fog. Map

49.

78

ALOACEAE: Aloe

Map 49. — • Aloe asperifolia

★ A. pachygaster

A A. falcata

This species is very similar to A. claviflora

(no. 70). The inflorescence in this species is

almost always branched, whereas in A. claviflo-

ra it very seldom branches, and the peduncle is

much stouter in A. asperifolia , with much laxer

racemes than in A. claviflora. The bracts of A.

asperifolia are papery, not fleshy, and are much

smaller than those of A. claviflora. The flowers

of A. asperifolia are almost cylindric, with

slightly upturned mouths, whereas those of A.

claviflora are straight and clavate. In A. falcata

(no. 69), which is similar in habit, the inflores-

cences are erect and the flowers are straight and

cylindric.

The specific epithet is derived from the Latin

words asper (= rough) and folia (= leaves).

Microscopically, the roughness of the leaves is

seen to be due to the extreme irregularity of the

surface cells. This is thought to be an adaptation

to the climate, in particular to provide a surface of

maximum area and irregularity, so as to precipi-

tate moisture from fog as efficiently as possible.

Vouchers: Giess 7976 (PRE); Hardy & De

Winter 1960 (PRE); Leach & Canned 15063

(K, MO, PRE, SRGH); Plowes 4453 (K, MO,

SRGH); Van Wyk4431 (PRE).

68. Aloe pachygaster Dinter in Feddes

repertorium specierum novarum regni vegeta-

bilis 19: 179 (1923a); Reynolds: 314 (1950);

Jeppe: 24 (1969); Soldi, Roessler & Merxm.:

18 (1970); Bornman & D.S. Hardy: 165 (1972);

Jankowitz: 16 (1975). Type: Namibia, Garub,

Dinter 4736 (Bf). Neotype: Namibia, Grosser

Tigerberg, Jankowitz 291 (M, holo.; PRE!,

WIND), designated by Merxmuller & Giess

(1974).

Plants erect, in small solid groups, 200-350

mm tall. Leaves 25-32, lanceolate, arcuate-

incurved, 100-160 x 16-30 mm, greyish yel-

lowish green, with a median row of ± 6 black

prickles at apex of lower surface. Inflorescence

a simple, dense, subcylindric, horizontal to

ascending raceme, 300-500 mm long; bracts

ovate-acuminate, 16-30 x 5-18 mm, 5-8-

nerved. Flowers cylindric to narrowly ovoid,

ventricose, coral-red, 26-34 mm long, mouth

slightly upturned; segments connate for ± half

their length; pedicels 5-10 mm long. Anthers

exserted 2-10 mm. Ovary’ ± 5-6 x 3 mm; style

exserted 6-8 mm. Fruit not seen. Flowering

time September to October.

Aloe pachygaster is endemic to Namibia

south of 24° south and grows on the edge of

Giess’s (1971) winter-rainfall desert, on harsh

dolomitic outcrops. Plants are often wedged into

crevices in the rocks. Rainfall is very low indeed

and erratic, but more likely in winter than in

summer. Fog at night is fairly frequent. Map 49.

Plants of this species form dense groups by

repeated division, with up to 10-15 rosettes in a

group. The leaves are rough to the touch and

convex on both surfaces, with margins armed

with pungent dark brown to black teeth. The

inflorescence is oblique, as in A. claviflora (no.

70), from which it is easily distinguishable by

its differently coloured, narrower leaves, small-

er rosettes and ventricose, not clavate, flowers.

A. pachygaster flowers from September to

October, whereas A. claviflora flowers from

July to September.

The specific epithet is derived from two

Greek words meaning ‘fat stomach', alluding to

the broadly ventricose flowers.

ALOACEAE: Aloe

79

Vouchers: Giess 14693 (PRE); Hall 1878

(NBG); Hardy 4901 (PRE); Triebner 1628

(PRE).

69. Aloe falcata Baker in Journal of the

Linnean Society of London, Botany 18: 181

(1880a); Baker: 326 (1896a); A. Berger: 218

(1908); Reynolds: 316 (1950); Jeppe: 27

(1969); Bornman & D.S. Hardy: 167 (1972); B.-

E. van Wyk & G.F.Sm.: 80 (1996). Type: North-

ern Cape, Calvinia Division, Zeyher 1678 (K,

holo.!; PRE, photo.!).

Plants stemless or short-stemmed, 200-400

mm tall, in solid groups. Leaves ± 20, erect,

lanceolate, 250^400 x 40-70 mm, grey-green to

glaucous. Inflorescence with 10 or more

branches, erect, up to 600 mm tall; racemes

subdense, subcylindric; bracts narrowly deltoid-

acuminate, 16-18 x 3-5 mm, ± 5-nerved.

Flowers red, rarely yellow, 21-40 mm long;

mouth straight; outer segments free for 5-10

mm, inner segments free but dorsally adnate to

outer for ± two thirds of their length; pedicels

5-18 mm long, lengthening to 15-25 mm in

fruit. Anthers exserted 5-8 mm. Ovary 4. 0-7.0

x 1. 5-3.0 mm, green; style exserted 1-10 mm.

Fruit 20-27 x 8-14 mm, grey to charcoal-grey.

Flowering time December.

Aloe falcata grows on shallow soil on rocky

outcrops in some of the most arid parts of the

Northern and Western Cape. Summers are hot

and extremely dry, and winters are frost-free

and the season in which the small amounts of

rain falling in this area can be expected. Fog is

frequent at night. The vegetation falls into

Acocks’s (1988) Succulent Karoo veld type.

Map 49.

Plants of this species usually form small,

dense groups of five to six rosettes. The leaves

are rough to the touch, falcately upcurved and

grey-green to glaucous; the upper surface is

slightly channelled, but flat towards the base,

and the lower surface is convex with a slight

keel near the apex. This species can readily be

distinguished from A. asperifolia (no. 67) by its

arcuate-ascending inflorescence and laxly flow-

ered racemes which terminate in acute apices.

Falcatus is a Latin word meaning ‘curved

like a sickle’. In this species it refers to the

peduncle, which emerges from the rosette at an

angle and then, at about the level of the lowest

branches, bends upwards so that the racemes

are vertical.

Vouchers: Frames 252 (PRE); Mar loth

12529 (PRE, STE); Reynolds 2537 (PRE); Van

Balen 266 (PRE); Werdermann & Oberdieck

643 (B, K, PRE).

70. Aloe claviflora Burch., Travels in the

interior of southern Africa 1: 272 (1822);

Reynolds: 25 (1938d); McKay: 34 (1943);

Reynolds: 318 (1950); Jeppe: 28 (1969); Solch,

Roessler & Merxm.: 16 (1970); Bornman &

D.S. Hardy: 169 (1972); Jankowitz: 18 (1975);

B.-E. van Wyk & G.F.Sm.: 78 (1996). Type:

Northern Cape, Fraserburg, Burchell 1425.2

(K).

A. schlechteri Schonland: 45 (1903); A. Berger: 219

(1908); Pole Evans: t. 151 (1924d). Type: Northern Cape,

Pella, M. Schlechter 133 (GRA. holo.!; BOL!, PRE!).

A. decora Schonland: 386 (1905b). Type: Northern Cape,

Douglas, Orpen s.n. (GRA. holo.!; BOL!. PRE!).

Plants in ‘fairy rings’ of up to 100 rosettes,

stemless or shortly caulescent, 150-250 mm

tall. Leaves 30-40 per rosette, arcuate-erect,

150-200 x 25-80 mm, glaucous. Inflorescence

a simple, horizontal to slightly ascending,

dense, narrowly conical raceme 300-500 mm

long; bracts ovate-acuminate, 15-32 x 5-10

mm, 5-many-nerved. Flowers coral-red in bud,

pale yellow at flowering, clavate, 25-40 mm

long; outer segments free for a quarter to half of

their length, inner segments free but dorsally

adnate to outer; pedicels 7-12 mm long.

Anthers exserted 4-15 mm. Ovary 6. 0-8.0 x

1. 5-3.0 mm, lemon-yellow to olive-green; style

exserted 4-15 mm. Fruit 32-55 x 14-22 mm,

puiplish grey-brown. Flowering time July to

September.

80

ALOACEAE: Aloe

Map 50. — • Aloe claviflora

★ A. argenticauda

▲ A. namibensis

Aloe claviflora is found in southern Namibia,

the western Free State, the Northern, Western

and Eastern Cape and on the North-West border.

It usually, but not always, occurs on calcrete, on

the margins of Kalahari thornveld. It often

grows in association with Acacia mellifera var.

detinens and does not normally occur out of the

summer-rainfall area. Map 50.

Plants of this species form dense clumps by

means of offshoots from their prostrate stems or

by means of (often repeated) division. As the

central parts die off, the clumps may form open

circles or ‘fairy rings’. The leaves are rough to

the touch and grey-green to glaucous. The upper

surface is flat to slightly convex and the lower

surface is convex. The inflorescence is usually

simple, rarely branched and usually oblique to

almost horizontally disposed. A. claviflora may

be distinguished from A. pachygaster ( no. 68) by

its generally more robust habit, larger distinctly

clavate flowers and differently coloured leaves.

Differences between this species and A. asperifo-

lia (no. 67) are discussed under that species.

The specific epithet is derived from two

Latin words, clava (= a club) and flos (= a

flower), and draws attention to the club-shaped

flowers. Common names recorded for this species

are kraalaalwyn and aanteelaalwyn (Afrikaans)

(Reynolds 1950).

Vouchers: Balsinhas & Kersberg 2030 (PRE);

Dinter 4815 (PRE); Giess 14585 (PRE);

Reynolds 1548 (PRE); Schlieben 11570 (PRE).

Hybrids:

1. A. claviflora x A. broomii var. broomii

(no. 26a). See A. broomii var. broomii.

2. A. claviflora x A. greatheadii var. great-

headii (no. 46a). See A. greatheadii var. great-

headii.

3. A. claviflora x A. grandidentata (no. 58).

See A. grandidentata.

4. A. claviflora x A. hereroensis var.

hereroensis (no. 76a). Vouchers: Bryant 288

(PRE); Coetzee & Werger 1742 (PRE); Leistner

& Joynt 2853 (PRE); Reynolds 1558 (BM,

PRE).'

7 1 . Aloe argenticauda Merxm. & Giess in

Mitteilungen der Botanischen Staatssammlung

Munchen 11: 441 (1974); Jankowitz: 14 (1975).

Type: Namibia, farm Urikos, Merxmuller &

Giess 28216 (M, holo.; PRE!, SRGH!, WIND).

Plants stemless or short-stemmed, 300-500

mm tall excluding inflorescence, in solid

clumps. Leaves ± 50 per rosette, erect, 250-350

x 30-35 mm, brownish grey-green, sometimes

with short median row of prickles at apex of

lower surface. Inflorescence a simple, erect,

cylindric-conical, very dense raceme, 0.9-1. 2

(-1.5) m tall; bracts narrowly deltoid-acumi-

nate, 50-70 x 7-12 mm, 7-many-nerved.

Flowers deep strawberry-pink, 32-37 mm long,

cylindric-ventricose; all segments shortly con-

nate at base; pedicels 5-12 mm long. Anthers

exserted up to 2 mm. Ovary ±6x2 mm; style

exserted 3-6 mm. Fruit not seen. Flowering

time August to October.

Aloe argenticauda occurs on very thin soil

on dolomite among desert grasses on the eastern

edge of the Namib Desert. Rainfall is scanty,

with no seasonal maximum, and much of the

moisture available to these plants is precipitated

from nocturnal fog. Map 50.

ALOACEAE: Aloe

81

The leaves of this species are much longer

than those of A. pachygaster (no. 68), with

which this species was confused for many

years. The inflorescence of A. argenticauda is

erect, not oblique, and well over twice as long

as that of A. pachygaster , the bracts are twice as

long and the flower is significantly longer. The

anthers and style are exserted much less in this

species than in A. pachygaster.

The ‘silver-tailed aloe’ (Latin argentum =

silver, and cauda = a tail) is very aptly named

after its conspicuous silvery bracts, which

enclose the young buds completely, so that the

portion of the inflorescence above the opened

flowers has indeed the appearance of a silver-

coloured fox-tail.

Voucher: Strey 2298 (PRE).

72. Aloe namibensis Giess in Mitteilungen

der Botanischen Staatssammlung Miinchen 8:

123 (1970); Solch, Roessler & Merxm.: 18

(1970); Bornman & D.S. Hardy: 285 (1972);

D.S. Hardy: 518 (1974); Jankowitz: 22 (1975);

I.Verd.: t. 1730 (1977). Type: Namibia, Swakop-

mund District, Giess 9212 (WIND, holo.; M).

Plants stemless, erect, 0.6- 1.0 m tall exclud-

ing inflorescence, usually solitary. Leaves

20-32, arcuate-ascending, 375-500 x 60-70

mm, glaucous. Inflorescence 2-4-branched

from about the middle, up to ± 950 mm tall;

racemes dense, cylindric; bracts narrowly del-

toid-acuminate, ± 35 x 5-14 mm, 7-many-

nerved. Flowers brilliant red, 20-30 mm long,

cylindric-ventricose; outer segments free to

base, inner segments free but dorsally adnate to

outer in lower half; pedicels 3-5 mm long.

Anthers exserted 3-12 mm. Ovary ± 7.0 x 2.5

mm, olive-green; style exserted 7-10 mm. Fruit

not seen. Flowering time November to March.

Figure 12.

Aloe namibensis occurs on the edge of the

central Namib Desert, north of the main road

between Windhoek and Swakopmund. It does

not penetrate into such harsh areas as A. asperi-

folia (no. 67). The scanty rainfall mostly occurs

in summer. Fog occurs at night at all times of

the year. Map 50.

The blue-green leaves of this species indi-

cate a similarity to A. claviflora (no. 70), but the

erect inflorescence indicates one to A. argenti-

cauda (no. 71). The inflorescence in this species

is much longer than that of A. claviflora and

nearly as long as that of A. argenticauda, but it

is branched, and the bracts are much shorter and

less conspicuous than in that species. In A. clavi-

flora the inflorescence may be simple or

branched, and the bracts are smaller than in A.

namibensis.

This species is named after the Namib

Desert, its natural habitat.

Voucher: Giess 10459 (PRE).

73. Aloe corallina I. Verd. in The Flowering

Plants of Africa 45: t. 1788 (1979). Type: Nami-

bia, Otjomborombonga, Leistner et al. 179

(PRE, holo.!).

Plants solitary, pendent, short-stemmed, ±

500 mm tall excluding inflorescence. Leaves

16-20, spreading to slightly recurved, brownish

green, 400-500 x 80-110 mm. Inflorescence

2-4-branched from about the middle, arcuate-

ascending to arcuate-erect, ± 600 mm long;

racemes narrowly conical, dense; bracts del-

toid-acuminate, ± 10-15 x 4 mm, ± 7-nerved.

Flowers coral-red to brilliant scarlet, 28-35 mm

long; segments connate for 10-12 mm. Anthers

not or hardly exserted. Ovary ±7x2 mm, pale

green; style exserted up to 5 mm. Fruit ±12x5

mm, dark brown to dark greenish grey.

Flowering time July to August.

Aloe corallina occurs on very steep cliffs in

the mountains of the Kaokoveld. Rainfall in this

area is minimal, and occurs mostly in summer.

Fog may occur at any time of the year, but this,

too, is rare here. The cliffs where A. corallina

grows are so steep as to preclude the presence

of other vegetation. Map 51.

82

ALOACEAE: Aloe

Figure 12. — Section Asperifoliae. Aloe namibensis: la. lower half of raceme; lb, upper half of raceme; 2, upper half

of leaf; 3, cross section of leaf, about midway. Taken from Verdoorn ( 1977).

ALOACEAE: Aloe

83

Map 5 1 . — • Aloe corallina

★ A. dewinteri

▲ A. viridiflora

Aloe mendesii, with which this species has

been confused, is an Angolan species with a

pendent habit on cliff faces, not erect. The

leaves of A. corallina are leathery, with hard

spines, whereas those of A. mendesii are much

softer, with softer spines. The inflorescence of

A. corallina is usually branched, whereas that of

A. mendesii is simple. The anthers and style of

A. corallina are not exserted as far as those of A.

mendesii , and the perianth segments are free for

two thirds, not half, of their length. There are

also considerable microscopical differences in

the leaf surface between these two species. In A.

dewinteri (no. 74), the inflorescence is branched

in the lower half, and the branches ascend at an

angle to the main axis, whereas the inflores-

cence of A. corallina is branched in the upper

half, and the branches are roughly parallel to the

main axis. The racemes of A. corallina are sub-

lax and conical, not dense and cylindric, and the

flowers do not change colour from bud to flow-

ering.

As the specific epithet indicates, the flowers

of this species are coral-red.

Voucher: Leistner et al. 179 (PRE).

74. Aloe dewinteri Giess in Bothalia 1 1 :

120 (1973); Bornman & D.S. Hardy: 287 (1972)

without Latin description; D.S. Hardy: 521

(1974); Jankowitz: 34 (1975); I.Verd.: t. 1752

(1978b). Type: Namibia, Sesfontein, Bnhr sub

Giess 10990 (WIND, holo.; M, PRE!).

Plants solitary, pendent, stemless or short-

stemmed, ± 500 mm tall excluding inflores-

cence. Leaves 14—22, glaucous to grey-green,

350-500 x 90-150 mm, apices recurved, mar-

gins red. Inflorescence rarely simple, usually

2-4-branched near base, to 850 mm tall;

racemes dense, cylindric-conical; bracts

oblong-obovate, acuminate, 1 2-1 8 x 5-7 mm, ±

7-nerved. Flowers scarlet in bud, creamy yel-

low at flowering, cylindric-trigonous, 23-33

mm long; outer segments free for two thirds to

three quarters of their length, inner segments

free but dorsally adnate to outer; pedicels 3-5

mm long. Anthers exserted for 1-6 mm. Ovary

5-6 x 2-3 mm, green; style exserted for l^f

mm. Fruit not seen. Flowering time December

to January.

Aloe dewinteri is endemic to Namibia, grow-

ing on steep cliff faces a relatively short dis-

tance to the south of A. corallina (no. 73). This

is a very arid area with hardly any (summer)

rainfall and minimal moisture from fog. Map

51.

Differences between this species and A.

corallina are dealt with under that species. It

would be difficult to confuse this species with

any other southern African aloe, but it bears a

superficial similarity to A. niebuhriana, an

Arabian species.

This species is named after Dr B. de Winter,

a former Director of the Botanical Research

Institute, who collected one of the first plants

from which the description was made.

Voucher: De Winter & Leistner PRE38580

(PRE).

75. Aloe viridiflora Reynolds in Journal of

South African Botany 3: 143 (1937b); Reynolds:

322 (1950); I.Verd. & D.S.Hardy: t. 1598 (1969);

84

ALOACEAE: Aloe

Jeppe: 30 (1969); Solch, Roessler & Merxm.:

19 (1970); Bornman & D.S. Hardy: 171 (1972);

Jankowitz; 32 (1975). Type: Namibia, Wind-

hoek District, Reynolds 1626 (PRE!).

Plants solitary, stemless, erect, 500-700 mm

tall excluding inflorescence. Leaves 50-60,

arcuate-incurved, 300-600 x 40-80 mm,

brownish glaucous, faintly lined. Inflorescence

5-10-branched, 1.2-1. 5 m tall; racemes very

dense, capitate; bracts deltoid-acuminate, 12-15

x 4—7 mm, 5-9-nerved. Flowers green to lemon-

yellow, 21-33 mm long; all segments free al-

most to base; pedicels 10-20 mm long. Anthers

exserted 5-10 mm. Ovary 5. 0-9.0 x 2. 0-2. 5

mm, green; style exserted 5-12 mm. Fruit not

seen. Flowering time August to September.

Aloe viridiflora grows near Windhoek, a few

kilometres east of nearby populations of A.

hereroensis (no. 76). A. viridiflora, unlike A.

hereroensis, usually occurs on granite. Map 5 1 .

Plants of this species are solitary and stem-

less. The leaves are glaucous without spots but

very faintly lined. The lower surface is convex,

and the margins are armed with deltoid pungent

pinkish brown teeth. The inflorescence is a

many-branched panicle with dense capitate

racemes, erect and up to ± 1.5 in tall. This

species differs from all others in the genus

except A. inconspicua (no. 7) in having green

flowers. In that species all vegetative charac-

ters, as well as the inflorescence and flower

shape, are markedly different from those of this

species.

The remarkable green flowers give this

species its name (Latin viridis = green, and flos

- flower).

Vouchers: Giess 13457 (MO, WIND); Hal!

NBG 419/55 (NBG); Hardy 2287 (PRE); Strey

2633 (PRE).

76. Aloe hereroensis Engl, in Botanische

Jahrbiicher 10: 2 (1888); Baker: 462 (1898a);

A. Berger: 204 (1908); Reynolds: 324 (1950);

Reynolds: 100 (1966); Jeppe: 31 (1969); Solch,

Roessler & Merxm.: 17 (1970); Bornman &

D. S.Hardy: 173 (1972); Jankowitz: 30 (1975); B.-

E. van Wyk & G.F.Sm.: 142 (1996). Type:

Namibia, Usakos, Marloth 1438 (B, holo.; PRE!).

A. orpeniae Schonland: 385 (1905b). A. hereroensis Engl,

var. orpeniae (Schonland) A. Berger: 204 (1908); Pole

Evans: t. 281 (1928d). Type: Northern Cape, Douglas,

Orpen s.n. (GRA, holo.!; BOL!, PRE!).

Plants solitary, stemless or short-stemmed,

erect, 300-500 mm tall excluding inflorescence.

Leaves ± 30, arcuate-ascending, 250-325 x

35-85 mm, shallowly channelled to D-shaped in

section, grey-green, dark blue-green or reddish

brown, obscurely lined, often with many H-

shaped whitish spots. Inflorescence a panicle

with 20 or more branches, ± 1 m tall; racemes

dense, capitate; bracts narrowly lanceolate-

acuminate, 15-30 x 5-6 mm, 3-7-nerved.

Flowers usually scarlet to deep red, almost

magenta, rarely yellow, 25-35 mm long;

pedicels 18-50 mm long. Anthers exserted 2-5

mm. Ovary 7-8 x 2-3 mm, green; style exserted

5-10 mm. Fruit ±18x7 mm, buff. Seeds ± 2.0

x 1.25 x 0.75 mm, almost black, wings promi-

nent, buff. Flowering time June to September.

Two varieties are recognised:

Flowers red 76a. var. hereroensis

Flowers yellow 76b. var. lutea

76a. var. hereroensis.

Description as for species.

This very widespread variety is found in

Namibia, the Northern Cape and western Free

State; also in Angola. It usually grows on

quartzite, but has been found on dolomite in the

Kalahari. It is confined to the summer-rainfall

area. Map 52.

Although A. hereroensis superficially resem-

bles A. viridiflora (no. 75), it can hardly be con-

fused with that species. The very distinct stria-

tions or spots on the leaves, which are charac-

teristic of this species, are absent in A. viridi-

ALOACEAE: Aloe

85

Map 52. — • Aloe hereroensis var. hereroensis

★ A. hereroensis var. lutea

flora. The flower of A. hereroensis is campanu-

late-cylindric with upturned mouth and usually

slightly stipitate, while in A. viridiflora it is

approximately cylindric. The flowers of A. here-

roensis vary from red to yellow, and are never

green as in A. viridiflora.

The specific epithet indicates that this species

grows in that part of central Namibia that was

called Hereroland in German colonial times.

Vouchers: Dinter 4921 (PRE); Giess 15288

(PRE); Leistner 904 (PRE); MacDonald 140

(NBG, PRE); Reynolds 2525 (PRE).

Hybrids:

1 . A. hereroensis var. hereroensis x A. broomii

var. broomii (no. 26a). See A. broomii var. broomii.

2. A. hereroensis var. hereroensis x A. varie-

gata (no. 40). See A. variegata.

3. A. hereroensis var. hereroensis x A. great-

headii var. greatheadii (no. 46a). See A. great-

headii var. greatheadii.

4. A. hereroensis var. hereroensis x A. gran-

didentata (no. 58). See A. grandidentata.

5. A. hereroensis var. hereroensis x A. clavi-

flora (no. 70). See A. claviflora.

76b. var. lutea A. Berger in Das Pflanzen-

reich 33: 205 (1908); Reynolds: 326 (1950);

Jeppe: 31 (1969); Bomman & D.S. Hardy: 173

(1972). Type: Namibia, between Karibib and

Kubas, Dinter s.n. (B? — not traced).

Differs from the typical variety only in

having yellow, not red, flowers.

Endemic to Namibia. Map 52.

Although the difference in appearance between

variety and type is so small, this variety is

upheld because the two are not sympatric. The

distribution range of var. lutea is completely

within that of var. hereroensis , and the nearest

populations of each variety are not far from

each other. The varietal epithet refers to the yel-

low flowers.

Vouchers: Dinter 199 (BM, K. SAM); Seydel

288 (K. MO).

13. Section Latebracteatae

Section Latebracteatae (A. Berger) Glen & D.S. Hardy, stat. nov. Type species: A. cryptopoda

Baker.

Series Latebracteatae A. Berger in Das Pflanzenreich 33: 232 ( 1908); Christian: 1 17 (1940a); Reynolds: 330 (1950).

Plants stemless to short-stemmed, sometimes suckering. Leaves rosulate. ensiform, not lined or

spotted, margins dentate. Inflorescence 2-8-branched, sterile bracts only subtending inflorescence

branches, or few. below racemes; racemes conical. Flowers cylindric-trigonous, red to yellow;

outer perianth segments free. Anthers not or shortly exserted. Style not or shortly exserted.

86

ALOACEAE: Aloe

K A XansdeU <J<>1

Figure 13. — Section Latebracteatae. Aloe cryptopoda: 1, habit, much reduced; 2, raceme; 3, portion of leaf; 4. trans-

verse section of leaf; 5, bract; 6, open flower; 7, fruit showing remains of perianth attached. Taken from Pole Evans (1922b).

ALOACEAE: Aloe

87

Leaves yellowish green; inflorescence usually 3-branched; bracts 7-nerved 78. A. lutescens

Leaves deep green; inflorescence 5-8-branched; bracts many-nerved 77. A. cryptopoda

In habit and general appearance, the species of this section are similar to those of section 22,

Pachythamnos. The bracts in this section are much larger and particularly much wider than those

of section Pachythamnos. Flowers in this section are borne on longer pedicels (10-20 mm, not 2-8

mm), and have included or only shortly exserted anthers and styles.

77. Aloe cryptopoda Baker in Journal of

Botany, British and Foreign 22; 52 (1884);

Baker; 467 (1898a); A. Berger: 233 (1908);

Christian: 117 (1940a); Reynolds: 331 (1950);

Reynolds: 31 (1954); Reynolds: 181 (1966);

Jeppe: 60 (1969); Bornman & D.S.Flardy: 179

(1972); West: 65 (1974); Compton: 99 (1976);

B.-E. van Wyk & G.F.Sm.: 132 (1996). Type:

Mozambique, Mutarara, Kirk 96 (K, holo.;

PRE!, photo.).

A. pienaarii Pole Evans: 27 (1915); Pole Evans: t. 17

(1921b). Type: Northern Province, Smits Drift. Pienaar s.n.

(PRE!).

A. wickensii Pole Evans: 29 (1915); Pole Evans: t. 41

(1922b); Reynolds: 146 (1937b) pro parte; Reynolds: 334

(1950); Jeppe: 62 (1969); Bornman & D.S. Hardy: 181

( 1972). Lectotype: hort.. Curator Pretoria 122 (PRE!).

A. wickensii Pole Evans var. lutea Reynolds: 145 (1937b);

Reynolds: 335 (1950); Jeppe: 62 (1969): Bornman &

D.S. Hardy: 181 (1972). Type: Mpumalanga. Burgersfort,

Reynolds 1949 (PRE, holo.!: BOL!, UPS!).

Plants usually stemless, 500-800 mm tall

excluding inflorescence, not suckering. Leaves

40-50, erect to arcuate-erect, 400-900 x 40-150

mm, deep green to glaucous green. Inflores-

cence 5-8-branched, 1.25-1.75 m tall; racemes

subdense; sterile bracts few; bracts broadly

ovate-acuminate, 13-20 x 8-12 mm, many-

nerved. Flowers red, yellow, or red in bud and

yellow at flowering, 25^-5 mm long; all seg-

ments free; pedicels 8-20 mm long. Anthers

exserted 1-4 mm. Ovary 6. 0-9.0 x 2.5-4.0 mm,

green; style exserted 3-5 mm. Fruit 20-23 x

11-13 mm, buff-grey. Seeds grey, ±5 x4x 1

mm, wing moderately narrow, translucent.

Flowering time June to August in most popula-

tions, but February to March in some. Figure 1 3.

Aloe cryptopoda is found in Botswana, the

Northern Province, North-West, Gauteng, Mpu-

malanga and Swaziland; also in Malawi, Mozam-

bique and Zimbabwe. It occurs in open savanna

woodland, in areas of summer rain and light to

no frost. It is widespread and does not seem to

be soil-specific. Seedlings of populations flow-

ering from February to March have leaves cov-

ered with hard, brown tubercles which disappear

with age, and which are not found in seedlings

of winter-flowering populations. Map 53.

The leaves of plants of this species turn

brownish when under drought stress, while

those of A. lutescens (no. 78) turn yellowish. A.

cryptopoda is not stoloniferous, as A. lutescens

is. The inflorescence of A. cryptopoda is more

broadly conical than that of A. lutescens , and

the flowers are slightly clavate, not cylindric.

The specific epithet, derived from two Greek

words meaning ‘hidden foot’, refers to the

pedicels which are largely (certainly in the basal

portion) hidden by the bracts. In seKone, the

common name of this species is ngafane

(Reynolds 1950).

Map 53. — Aloe cryptopoda

ALOACEAE: Aloe

Vouchers: Buitendag 836 (NBG, PRE);

Codd 2962 (PRE); Marloth 5140 (PRE, STE);

Reynolds 1945 (BOL, PRE); Van der Schijff

3006 (PRE).

Hybrids:

1. A. cryptopoda x A. greatheadii var.

davyana (no. 46b). See A. greatheadii var.

davyana.

2. A. cryptopoda x A. arborescens (no. 96).

Voucher: Leach 353 (SRGH).

3. A. cryptopoda x A. castanea (no. 102).

Voucher: Barnard s.n. (PRE).

4. A. cryptopoda x A. marlothii subsp. mar-

lothii (no. 104a). Voucher: Barnard 1134 (PRE).

78. Aloe lutescens Groenew. ex Pole Evans

in The Flowering Plants of South Africa 18: t.

707 (1938c); Reynolds: 337 (1950); Jeppe: 60

(1969); Bornman & D.S. Hardy: 183 (1972);

West: 66 (1974); B.-E. van Wyk & G.F.Sm.:

146 (1996). Type: Northern Province, Tshipise,

F.Z. van der Merwe 1377 (PRE!).

Plants short-stemmed, 500-800 mm tall

excluding inflorescence, sometimes suckering to

form lax to dense groups. Leaves ± 30, arcuate-

erect to spreading, 400-600 x 60-90 mm, yel-

lowish green. Inflorescence usually 3-branched;

sterile bracts only subtending branches; racemes

dense; bracts broadly ovate-acuminate, 10-15 x

5-15 mm, ± 7-nerved. Flowers scarlet in bud,

yellow at flowering, 23-35 mm long; all seg-

ments free; pedicels 13-15 mm long, lengthen-

ing to 17-25 mm in fruit. Anthers exserted up to

3 mm. Ovary 5-8 x 2—4 mm, green; style exsert-

Map 54. — Aloe lutescens

ed 2-6 mm. Fruit 16-30 x 12-15 mm, grey to

reddish. Flowering time July to August.

Aloe lutescens grows in hot savanna wood-

land in the Northern Province; also in Mozam-

bique and Zimbabwe. It grows in very sandy

soils and sometimes on calcrete. Nowhere in its

distribution range does it encounter frost or high

rainfall. Map 54.

In this species the leaves turn yellowish

when drought-stricken, rather than reddish or

brownish as in A. cryptopoda (no. 77). Other

differences between this species and A. cryp-

topoda are discussed under that species.

The Latin word lutescens may be translated

as ‘becoming yellow’ or ‘yellowish’. The for-

mer meaning describes the flowers, and the lat-

ter fits the leaves.

Vouchers: Galpin 13200 (PRE); Plowes 2590

(NH, PRE); Reynolds 2509 (PRE); Van der

Schijff 3183 (PRE).

14. Section Chabaudia

Section Chabaudia Glen & D.S. Hardy, sect. nov. Type species: A. chabaudii Schonland.

Series Aethiopicae A. Berger in Das Pflanzenreich 33: 242 (1908); Reynolds: 339 (1950) pro parte, excl. typ. Type species:

A. aethiopica (Schweinf.) A. Berger.

ALOACEAE: Aloe

89

Plantae solitariae vel soboliferae, acaulescentes vel breve caulescentes; foliis immaculatis vel

obscure lineatis vel maculatis, marginibus grosse vel subtiliter dentatis; inflorescentiis ramosis, in

A. sujfulta scandentibus; perianthio trigonose indentato; antheris styloque inclusis vel breve

exsertis.

Plants stemless to short-stemmed, often suckering freely. Leaves rosulate. deltoid to ensiform,

obscurely lined, often spotted, sometimes unmarked, shallowly channelled, margins dentate.

Inflorescence usually much-branched, erect, sometimes climbing; sterile bracts only subtending

inflorescence branches; racemes capitate to cylindric, dense to lax; pedicels half as long as flow-

ers; bracts small, deltoid-acuminate. Flowers with a basal swelling enclosing ovary, later trigo-

nously indented, straight to arcuate-decurved, usually red; outer segments connate for half or more

of their length. Anthers included to shortly exserted. Style included to shortly exserted.

Leaves distinctly spotted; inflorescence climbing 19. A. sujfulta

Leaves unspotted, rarely obscurely spotted; inflorescence erect (self-supporting) . . 80. A. chabaudii

The trigonous indentations in the flower above the ovary distinguish this group from all others.

Plants are solitary or clumped, with unspotted to distinctly randomly spotted leaves. The inflores-

cences are much-branched panicles with lax to dense racemes, and may twine around surrounding

bushes for support. The following species, both occurring only in tropical Africa, are to be placed

in this section: A. bukobana and A. rivae. The type of Berger’s series Aethiopicae , A. aethiopica

(Schweinf.) A. Berger (a synonym of A. elegans Tod.) is excluded. This species is closer to section

13, Latebracteatae. Some species from East Africa with randomly spotted leaves and subtrigonous

flowers, such as A. pirottae and A. somaliensis , quite probably belong here. A. sujfulta seems to be

intermediate between these species and those listed above, which are more similar to A. chabaudii

than A. pirottae.

79. Aloe suffulta Reynolds in Journal of

South African Botany 3: 151 ( 1937d); Reynolds:

343 (1950); Jeppe: 103 (1969); Bornman &

D.S. Hardy: 187 (1972); West: 63 (1974); B.-E.

van Wyk & G.F.Sm.: 222 (1996). Type: Mo-

zambique, Marracuene, Reynolds 2457 (PRE,

holo.!; BOL!).

Plants solitary, short-stemmed; stems up to

200 mm long with distinct internodes. Leaves ±

16, sheathing at base, blade narrowly deltoid,

spreading to recurved, 300-500 x 20^10 mm,

green with many dull white spots. Inflorescence

a climbing panicle, 1.75-2.25 m long; racemes

lax, cylindric; bracts deltoid, 5-7 x 2^1 mm, ±

7-nerved. Flowers reddish, mouth whitish,

18-35 mm long; outer segments free for 3-7

mm, inner segments mostly dorsally adnate to

outer; pedicels 5-9 mm long. Anthers exserted

1-6 mm. Ovary’ 5.0-6.0 x 2.0-3.5 mm. green;

style exserted 1-8 mm. Fruit not seen. Flower-

ing time June to July.

The type locality of this species is in thorny

scrub on consolidated beach dunes. It occurs on

sand with loose humus or on black cotton soil in

very hot places in KwaZulu-Natal; also in

Mozambique and Zimbabwe. It is very suscep-

tible to cold. Map 55.

Plants of A. suffulta, unlike those of A. cha-

baudii (no. 80), are climbing and solitary, with

distinct intemodes between the copiously spot-

ted recurved leaves. The inflorescence is

1.5-2.25 m tall and climbing, as the peduncle is

too thin to support itself. This species is one of

the most distinctive in the whole genus.

This specific epithet is derived from the Latin

word sujfulcire, meaning to 'prop up" or ‘sup-

90

ALOACEAE: Aloe

5

C.leUy d-e 1-

Figure 14. — Section Chabaudia. Aloe chabaudii: 1, habit, much reduced; 2, single flower; 3, median longitudinal sec-

tion of flower; 4, inflorescence; 5, upper part of leaf. Taken from Christian ( 1938b).

ALOACEAE: Aloe

91

port'. The inflorescence of this species is sup-

ported by the bushes between which it grows.

Vouchers: Harrison PRE39405 (PRE); Leach

& Brunton 1193 (PRE); Pooley 1658 (NU);

Strey 10409 (NH. PRE).

80. Aloe chabaudii Schonland in The Gar-

deners' Chronicle 3, 38: 102 ( 1905c); A. Berger:

244 (1908); Pole Evans: t. 164 (1925a);

Reynolds: 339 (1950); Reynolds: 23 (1954);

Reynolds: 102 (1966); Jeppe: 6 (1969); Born-

man & D.S. Hardy: 185 (1972); West: 53

(1974); B.-E. van Wyk & G.F.Sm.: 128 (1996).

Type: Zimbabwe, no precise locality, Schonland

s.n. (GRA!).

A. chabaudii Schonland var. verekeri Christian: t. 699

(1938b); Reynolds: 342 (1950); Reynolds: 107 (1966);

West: 62 (1974). Type: Zimbabwe, Sabi Gorge. Vereker

PRE23027{ PRE!).

Plants stemless or short-stemmed, 300-500

mm tall excluding inflorescence, forming large

dense groups. Leaves ± 20 per rosette, bicon-

vex, 300-500 x 60-110 mm. grey-green to

glaucous green, upper surface sometimes with

few spots. Inflorescence a panicle 0.6- 1.0 m

tall; racemes capitate to cylindric, lax to sub-

dense; bracts deltoid, 3. 0-5.0 x 1. 5-3.0 mm,

3-5-nerved. Flowers scarlet to brick-red, 1 8-40

mm long; outer segments free for 4-8 mm,

inner segments free but dorsally adnate to outer;

pedicels 19-25 mm long. Anthers exserted 1-2

mm. Ovary 6. 0-7.0 x 2. 0-2. 5 mm, brownish

green; style exserted 2-4 mm. Fruit ±21 x 12

mm. Flowering time June to July. Figure 14.

Found in Botswana, the Northern Province,

Mpumalanga, Swaziland and KwaZulu-Natal;

also in Democratic Republic of the Congo,

Tanzania, Zambia, Malawi, Mozambique and

Zimbabwe. A. chabaudii var. mlanjeana is re-

stricted to Malawi and therefore not treated

here. A. chabaudii usually grows on bare rock

on granitic domes, or in shallow soil pockets. It

is very variable in climatic requirements, but it

is frost-sensitive. Map 56.

The leaves of this species are sometimes

spotted, but the flowers lack the inflated flower

base which is characteristic of section 9, Pictae.

Instead, the flower tube is trigonously indented

near the base. The nearest relatives of A. cha-

baudii are probably A. milne-redheadii and A.

mzimbana, both of which occur in northern

Zambia and Malawi. A. chabaudii is at once

distinguished from A. suffulta (no. 79) by its

stoloniferous habit, usually unspotted or only

obscurely spotted, spreading to incurved leaves

and relatively short (up to 1 m tall) nonclimbing

inflorescence.

The type specimen of this species was given

to Schonland by Mr J.A. Chabaud, after whom

92

ALOACEAE: Aloe

it is named. Mr Chabaud grew the plant in his

garden in Port Elizabeth, and had obtained it

from Mr J.M. Brown, who collected it in the

course of a hunting trip to the Zambezi.

Vouchers: Codd 2901 (PRE); Compton 29052

(NBG, PRE); Galpin 13201 (PRE); Reynolds

5468 (BOL, PRE, SAM); Van der Schijff 509

(PRE).

Hybrid:

A. chabaudii var. chabaudii x A. excelsa (no.

115). Voucher: Leach 9292 (SRGH).

15. Section Macrifoliae

Section Macrifoliae (Haw.) Glen & D.S. Hardy, stat. nov. Type species: A. ciliaris Haw.

Series Macrifoliae Haw. in the Philosophical Magazine 66: 280 (1825); A. Berger: 254 (1908); Reynolds: 345 (1950).

Series Striatulae A. Berger: 47 (1905a).

Plants shrubby or climbing, several-stemmed. Leaves spirally arranged, sheathing, separated by

distinct internodes, linear-lanceolate, thin, flat, margins dentate to denticulate, ciliate in one

species. Inflorescence a lateral panicle with simple, cylindric, lax to subdense or capitate and dense

racemes; sterile bracts few; flowers pendulous. Flowers cylindric, slightly trigonous, sometimes

subventricose or with a constriction about the middle; segments ± connate. Anthers included or

exserted. Style included or exserted.

la Sheathing leaf bases auriculate and ciliate 82. A. ciliaris

lb Sheathing leaf bases not auriculate or ciliate:

2a Floriferous part of raceme shorter than 90 mm, capitate 84. A. commixta

2b Floriferous part of raceme longer than 90 mm, subdense or lax but not capitate:

3a Pedicels longer than 6 mm 83. A. gracilis

3b Pedicels up to 6 mm long:

4a Flower up to 20 mm long 8 1 . A. tenuior

4b Flower longer than 30 mm 85. A. striatula

The cane-like stems of plants of this section, with their thin, slender, sheathing unspotted and

generally nonstriate leaves with minute marginal teeth, immediately distinguish this section from

all others. The flowers of plants of this section are unusual in that although the outer perianth seg-

ments are connate almost to the apex, the inner segments are free to the base, not only from one

another, but from the outer segments as well.

81. Aloe tenuior Haw. in The Philosophi-

cal Magazine 66: 281 (1825); Salm-Dyck: 25, t.

3 (1840); Baker: 317 (1896a); A.Berger: 257

(1908); Marloth: t. 23 (1915); Reynolds: 105

(1936i); Reynolds: 347 (1950); EVerd.: t. 1352

(1961b); Jeppe: 1 1 1 (1969); Bomman & D.S. Har-

dy: 189 (1972); B.-E. van Wyk & G.F.Sm.: 102

(1996). Iconotype: Bauer plate at K, reproduced

in Reynolds: 347 (1950).

A. tenuior Haw. var. glaucescens Zahlbr.: 16(1 900). Type:

Eastern Cape, Kei River, Krook in Penther 780 (W).

A. tenuior Haw. var. rubriflora Reynolds: 108 (1936i);

Reynolds: 350 (1950); Jeppe: 111 (1969); Bomman &

D.S. Hardy: 189 (1972). Type: Eastern Cape, Mlengana,

Reynolds 1750 (PRE!),

A. tenuior Haw. var. decidua Reynolds: 111 (1936i);

Reynolds: 351 (1950); Jeppe: 111 (1969); Bomman &

D.S. Hardy: 189 (1972). Type: Eastern Cape, Alice,

Reynolds 1760 (PRE, holo.!: BOL!).

ALOACEAE: Aloe

93

A. tenuior Haw. var. densiflora Reynolds: 349 (1950);

Jeppe: 111 (1969); Bomman & D.S. Hardy: 189 (1972).

Type: Eastern Cape, Breakfast Vlei, Reynolds 2390 ( PRE! ).

Plants 1-3 m tall; stems leafless below lax

apical tuft of leaves. Leaves ± 12-20 per stem,

erect to spreading, thin to slightly fleshy, 100-

190 x 10-18 mm, glaucous green. Inflorescence

a simple, sublax to subdense raceme, 250-400

mm long; bracts narrowly deltoid-acuminate,

3-7 x 1-2 mm, obscurely nerved. Flowers

lemon-yellow to scarlet, cylindric, 10-19 mm

long, mouth slightly expanded; outer segments

mostly connate, inner segments free; pedicels

2-6 mm long, scarcely longer in fruit. Anthers

exserted 2-6 mm. Ovary ± 3.0 x 1.0-1. 5 mm.

lemon; style exserted 3-6 mm. Fruit 10-13 x

6-7 mm, dark brown to dark grey. Flowering

time (August to) October to December (to May).

Figure 15.

This species is found in Mpumalanga,

KwaZulu-Natal and the Eastern and Western

Cape and occurs in open country on sandy soil

with Encephalartos longifolius , grasses, forbs,

various members of the Mesembryanthemaceae

and other small succulents. It rarely occurs in

valley bushveld. Map 57.

Aloe tenuior has a large, subtuberous to sub-

woody rootstock. This species differs from A.

ciliaris (no. 82) in that the leaf bases are not at

all auriculate, and the anthers and style are

long-exserted. The flowers of A. tenuior are

somewhat smaller than those of A. ciliaris. In A.

striatula (no. 85) the racemes are dense, and the

flowers are decurved and about twice as long as

those of A. tenuior.

Haworth (1825) gave the English trivial

name ‘green-sheathed narrow-leaved (aloe)’ to

this species; the specific epithet indicates that

it is in all parts a finer, more slender plant than

A. striatula and A. ciliaris, which he described

in the same paper. Other common names

recorded for this species include ikhalene

(Xhosa) and intelezi (Fingo) (Reynolds 1950).

In folk medicine, a decoction of the roots of

this species is used as a remedy for tapeworm

(Reynolds 1950).

Vouchers: Acocks 11882 (PRE); Bayliss 1271

(PRE); Plowes 3167 (PRE); Strey 9620 (PRE);

Wells 2632 (PRE).

82. Aloe ciliaris Haw. in The Philosophical

Magazine 66: 281 (1825); Salm-Dyck: 25, t. 1

(1837); Baker: 317 (1896a); A.Berger: 255

(1908); Marloth: t. 23 (1915); R.A.Dyer: t. 910

(1943); Reynolds: 352 (1950); Jeppe: 110

(1969); Bornman & D.S. Hardy: 191 ( 1 972); B .-

E. van Wyk & G.F.Sm.: 94 (1996). Iconotype:

unpublished Duncanson plate at K.

A. ciliaris Haw. var. flanaganii Schonland: 42 (1903).

Type: Eastern Cape, Komga, Flanagan 1326 (GRA, holo.!;

BOL!. PRE!).

Stems shrubby or climbing, up to 5 m long;

leaves present only near apex. Leaves 30-60,

spreading, distinctly auriculate, usually ciliate at

base, linear-lanceolate, 70-180 x 12-25 mm.

thin to slightly fleshy, glaucous. Inflorescence a

simple, cylindric, dense raceme, 200-400 mm

long; bracts narrowly deltoid-acuminate, 3-5 x

1-2 mm, 1-3-nerved; pedicels 4—8 mm long.

Flowers scarlet, cylindric, 25^40 mm long; outer

segments free for 5-7 mm. inner segments free.

Anthers exserted 2-4 mm. Ovary ± 4-5 x 2 mm.

pale green; style exserted 2—4 mm. Fruit ± 18 x

9 mm.

94

ALOACEAE: Aloe

Figure 15. — Section Macrifoliae. Aloe tenuior: 1, raceme; 2, terminal portion of stem with leaves and basal half of

peduncle in axil of a leaf; 3, longitudinal section of flower, x 1.7; 4, portion of dry raceme with one persistent fruit. Taken

from Verdoom (1961b).

ALOACEAE: Aloe

95

Three varieties are recognised:

1 a Sheathing leaf bases distinctly auricu-

late and ciliate; stems up to 5 m

long; perianth longer than 27 mm;

flowers subdensely arranged

82a. var. ciliaris

lb Sheathing leaf bases minutely auricu-

late and ciliate; stems up to 3 m

long; perianth shorter than 27 mm;

flowers laxly arranged:

2a Bracts 4-5 mm long; flowers 21-25

mm long 82b. var. redacta

2b Bracts 2-3 mm long; flowers 16-23

mm long 82c. var. tidmarshii

82a. var. ciliaris.

Description as for species. Flowering time

throughout the year.

Endemic to the Western and Eastern Cape,

except for a population in Kenya remarked

upon by Reynolds (1950: 353). This is one of

the few aloes in which flowering is equally

probable at any time of the year. Map 58.

Aloe ciliaris differs from all other southern

African species in having distinctly auriculate

and ciliate leaf bases, and (in this variety) in

being hexaploid (2 n = 42; Brandham & Carter

1990). The typical variety differs from var. tid-

marshii (no. 82c) in being larger in all its parts.

Map 59. — ★ Aloe ciliaris var. redacta

A A. ciliaris var. tidmarshii

and in having dense racemes of significantly

longer flowers.

The specific epithet draws attention to the

ciliate leaf bases. Haworth ( 1825) called this the

'fringing broader-leaved (aloe)’, with a note

that the breadth of the leaf was remarkable only

in this section.

Vouchers: Britten 2413 (PRE); Fourcade 3680

(PRE, STE); Long 1156 (PRE); Reynolds 2393

(PRE); Wells 2656 (GRA, PRE).

82b. var. redacta S. Carter in Brandham &

Carter in Kew Bulletin 45: 643 (1990). Type:

Eastern Cape, Qolora Mouth, Wisura 2640 (K,

holo.).

Leaves 70-110 x ± 13 mm; cilia 1-2 mm

long. Flowers 21-25 mm long; pedicels 3-5

mm long. Tetraploid (2 n = 28). Other characters

as in var. ciliaris.

It appears to be restricted to a small area on

the Kei River in the Eastern Cape. Map 59.

The rarest and most difficult to spot of the

three varieties, the tetraploid (2 n = 28; Brand-

ham & Carter, 1990) is known from only a few

gatherings. In all characters it is intermediate

between the other two varieties.

96

ALOACEAE: Aloe

The Latin word redactus means ‘reduced’, and

applies best to the limited range of this variety.

Voucher: Pegler 1426 (BOL. K).

82c. var. tidmarshii Schonland in Records

of the Albany Museum 1: 41 (1903); A. Berger:

255 (1908); Brandham & Carter: 643 (1990).

Type: Eastern Cape. Grahamstown, Schonland

1487 (GRA. holo.!; BOL!).

A. tidmarshii (Schonland) Muller in R. A. Dyer: t. 910

(1943); Reynolds: 354 (1950): Jeppe: 112 (1969); Bomman

& D.S. Hardy: 193 (1972).

Stems scrambling, up to 3 m long, with leaves

for much of their length. Leaves spreading, not

auriculate, linear-lanceolate, 70-160 x 6-20 mm,

thin to slightly fleshy, green. Inflorescence a sim-

ple, cylindric, subdense raceme, 200-300 mm

long; bracts narrowly deltoid-acuminate, ±4x2

mm, 1-5-nerved. Flowers coral-red to scarlet,

cylindric, mouth region subventricose, 15-25

mm long; outer segments free for 4—8 mm, inner

segments free; pedicels 4—6 mm long. Anthers

not or hardly exserted. Ovary 4—6 x 1-2 mm,

green; style exserted 1-3 mm. Flowering time

November to April.

The geographical range of var. tidmarshii is

much more restricted than that of var. ciliaris

(no. 82a). It is endemic to the Eastern Cape and

occurs on stony, clayey soils at higher altitude

further from the sea than var. ciliaris , in rela-

tively dense savanna woodland. Map 59.

The leaf bases of this variety are minutely

ciliate and clasp the stem, unlike those of var.

ciliaris, in which the leaf base forms a conspic-

uous fringed collar around the stem. The short

flowers are borne in a lax raceme. The anthers

and styles are included or hardly exserted, in

contrast to the long-exserted anthers and styles

of A. tennior (no. 8 1 ). Plants of var. tidmarshii

tend to become scramblers.

This variety is named after Mr E. Tidmarsh,

who kept a hotel near Grahamstown at about

turn of the 19th to the 20th century, and who

supplied Schonland with the plant from which

the type specimen was prepared.

Vouchers: Archibald 5859 (PRE); Bayliss

7492 (MO); Long 1156 (GRA, K); Story 2374

(K, PRE); Theron 1054 (PRE).

83. Aloe gracilis Haw. in The Philosoph-

ical Magazine 66: 279 (1825); Haw.: 90 (1830);

Reynolds: 95 (1947b); Reynolds: 356 (1950);

Jeppe: 113 (1969); Bomman & D.S. Hardy: 195

(1972); B.-E. van Wyk & G.F.Sm.: 98 (1996)

non Baker, nec Schonland. Iconotype: Bauer

plate at K. reproduced in Reynolds: 357 (1950).

A. laxiflora N.E.Br.: 130 (1906): A. Berger: 255 (1908);

Pole Evans: t. 303 (1928e). Type: Western Cape, no precise

locality, Griffiths s.n. ( K! ).

A. gracilis Haw. var. decumbens Reynolds: 358 (1950);

Jeppe: 113 (1969): Bomman & D.S. Hardy: 195 (1972).

Type: Western Cape, Riversdale Division, Muir 5383

(PRE!).

Plants shrubby, up to 2 m tall; stems erect,

leaves present only in top 300-600 mm. Leaves

spreading, not auriculate, 120-250 x 10-28 mm,

slightly channelled, dull green. Inflorescence a

simple, subdense, cylindric raceme, 200-400

mm long, sometimes branched; bracts narrowly

deltoid-acuminate, 4—6 x 1. 5-3.0 mm, 1-3-

nerved. Flowers scarlet, 26^15 mm long, cylin-

dric; outer segments free for 6-12 mm, inner

segments free; pedicels 6-9 mm long, not or

hardly longer in fruit. Anthers exserted up to 2

mm. Ovary 4. 0-5.0 x 1.5-2. 5 mm; style exsert-

ed up to 5 mm. Fruit ± 22 x 9 mm, almost

black. Flowering time May to August.

Aloe gracilis is endemic to the southern parts

of the Western and Eastern Cape and occurs in

the ecotone between forest and fynbos at the

eastern end of the area of rain in all seasons, in

stony places on the coastal plain or up to the top

of the first range of mountains. Map 60.

In vegetative characters this species resem-

bles A. striatula (no. 85), but the leaves of this

species are duller green and the leaf sheaths are

not as distinctly striate as in that one. The flow-

ers are borne in a lax raceme on slightly longer

ALOACEAE: Aloe

97

Map 60. — • Aloe gracilis

★ A. commixta

pedicels. They are similar to those of A. ciliaris

(no. 82) but the leaf bases are very different and

the racemes are much laxer than in that species.

Haworth (1825) considered his ‘soft distant

sword-leaved’ aloe to be closely related to, but

more slender (Latin gracilis = slender) than A.

caesia , which Reynolds (1950: 413) showed to

be a hybrid between A. arborescens and A.ferox.

Vouchers: Brandham & Cutler 1538 (K);

Dahl strand 3190 (MO, PRE); Goldblatt 5427

(MO); Marloth 13445 (PRE); Paterson 53 (PRE).

84. Aloe commixta A. Berger in Das Pflan-

zenreich 33: 260 ( 1908); Reynolds: 359 (1950);

Adamson: 171 (1950); Jeppe: 115 (1969);

Bornman & D.S.Hardy: 197 (1972); B.-E. van

Wyk & G.F.Sm.: 96 (1996). Type: Western

Cape, Simonstown, Wright s.n. (K!).

A. gracilis Baker: 170 (1880a); Baker: 318 (1896a) non

Haw. Type: not cited.

Plants shrubby, ± 1.5 m tall; stems with

leaves for most of their length. Leaves erect to

spreading, not auriculate, 110-200 x 1 7 — 42

mm, slightly channelled, dull green. Inflores-

cence a simple, capitate, very dense raceme.

300-450 mm tall; bracts deltoid-acuminate, ±

4-6 x 2.5 mm, 1 -nerved. Flower yellowish to

orange, 28-40 mm long, cylindric; outer seg-

ments free to between middle and base, inner

segments free; pedicels 6-8 mm long, lengthen-

ing to ± 12 mm in fruit. Anthers exserted up to

4 mm. Ovary ±9x4 mm, green; style exserted

up to 5 mm. Fruit not seen in ripe state.

Flowering time August to September.

Aloe commixta is one of two species restrict-

ed to Table Mountain sandstone in the Western

Cape. It receives very high winter rainfall, and

is close to the base of the mist belt in summer.

Map 60.

The short, subcapitate racemes of flowers

which change colour as they age, distinguish

this species from others of this section. This is

the only species in the section that occurs on the

Cape Peninsula. The habit and leaves of this

species recall A. striatula (no. 85), but the

leaves are more erect and the leaf sheaths less

prominently striate.

The specific epithet is derived from the Latin

word commiscere, ‘to mix’ or ‘join together’.

Berger notes in the first description that this

species was confused by Baker and Schonland

with A. gracilis , and that it is a vicariant of A.

striatula. Either note would explain the name.

Vouchers: Fair BOL7941 (BOL); Marloth

8977 (PRE, STE); Pillans s.n. (BOL, GRA.

PRE); Thode 7923 (STE).

85. Aloe striatula Haw. in The Philosoph-

ical Magazine 66: 281 (1825); Baker: 318

(1896a); A. Berger: 259 (1908); Reynolds: 362

(1950); Jeppe: 1 14 ( 1969); Bornman & D.S.Har-

dy: 199 (1972); B.-E. van Wyk & G.F.Sm.: 100

( 1996). Iconotype: Bauer plate at K, reproduced

in Reynolds: 362 (1950).

A. macowanii Baker: 170 (1880a); Baker: 318 (1896a);

Schonland: 42 (1903). Type: Eastern Cape. Boschberg.

MacOwan 1915 (K, holo.!; PRE, photo.!).

A. aurantiaca Baker: 780 (1892b); Baker: 318 (1896a).

Type: Hort. La Mortola. Hanbury s.n. (K!).

A. cascadensis Kuntze: 313 (1898). Type: Eastern Cape,

East London, Kuntze s.n. (NY, holo.; BOL, photo.!).

98

ALOACEAE: Aloe

Plants shrubby, 1.0-1.75 m tall; stems with

leaves for most of their length. Leaves spreading

to re flexed, not auriculate, 110-250 x 9-25 mm,

channelled, glossy green; sheath striate.

Inflorescence a simple, cylindric-conical, sub-

dense raceme, 200-400 mm tall; bracts narrowly

deltoid-acuminate, inconspicuous, 3-6 x 1-2 mm,

3-5-nerved. Flowers reddish to orange, decurved,

35^45 mm long; outer segments free almost to

base, inner segments free but lightly adnate to

outer; pedicels 3-6 mm long, lengthening to 8-10

mm in fruit. Anthers exserted 2-5 mm. Ovary

5. 0-6.0 x 2.0-4.5 mm, pale lemon-yellow; style

exserted 2-7 mm. Fruit ± 18 x 14 mm.

Aloe striatula occurs among rocks on moun-

tain tops in the Eastern Cape. Its range is with-

in the winter snow belt in one of the coldest

parts of southern Africa.

The prominent green striations on the leaf

sheaths in this species remain as brown longitu-

dinal stripes in dried specimens; they can be

used to distinguish this species from all others

in this section. The dense, cylindric racemes of

flowers with long recurved flowers and long-

exserted anthers and styles are also diagnostic

for this species.

Two varieties are recognised:

Flower longer than 35 mm, reddish to

orange 85a. var. striatula

Flower shorter than 30 mm, yellow

85b. var. caesia

85a. var. striatula.

Description as for species. Flowering time

October to November.

Found in the Eastern Cape. Map 61.

Haworth (1825) called it the ‘stripe-sheathed

narrow-leaved’ aloe, and the specific epithet

draws attention to the striped leaf sheath.The

Xhosa name for this species is ingcelwane.

Notes on the specimen A. Hutchings 846 (KEI)

indicate that this plant is used as a hedge for

kraals. In addition, the roots are crushed in

warm water as a treatment for constipation. The

liquid is taken orally or as an enema.

Vouchers; Acocks 11962 (BM, PRE); Burchell

3115 (K); Jacot Guillarmocl 4740 (PRE);

Liebenberg 7678 (PRE); Story 4537 (BM, BOL,

GRA, PRE).

85b. var. caesia Reynolds in The Flowering

Plants of South Africa 16: t. 633 (1936j);

Reynolds: 364 (1950); Jeppe: 1 14 (1969); Born-

man & D.S. Hardy: 199 (1972). Type: Eastern

Cape, near Hofmeyr, Reynolds 1607 (PRE,

holo.!; BOL!).

Map 62. — Aloe striatula var. caesia

ALOACEAE: Aloe

99

Leaves 130-220 x 9-18 mm, glaucous

green, denser than in var. striatula. Flowers yel-

low throughout, straight, 20-30 mm long.

Flowering time (November to) December to

January. Other characters as in var. striatula.

Endemic to the Eastern Cape. Map 62.

The varietal epithet caesia means ‘blue-

grey’ and refers to the leaves, which are more

glaucous than in the typical variety.

Vouchers: Galpin 2620 ( BOL, GRA, K, PRE);

Hilliard & Burtt 14779 (NU); Reynolds 2199

(PRE, SAM); Theron 561 (PRE).

16. Section Aloe

Section Aloe. Type species: A. perfoliata L.

Section Mitriformes Salm-Dyck: 24 (1854). Type species: A. perfoliata L. (= A. mitriformis Mill.).

Series Mitriformes (Salm-Dyck) A. Berger: 273 (1908); Reynolds: 371 (1950). Type species: A. mitriformis Mill.

Plants pendent or decumbent to erect, 1 -many-stemmed. Leaves spirally arranged, crowded or

separated by distinct internodes, ovate-acute to ensiform or deltoid, margins and sometimes keel

with ± stout teeth. Inflorescence simple or branched, usually with scattered sterile bracts; racemes

usually capitate; flowers spreading to pendulous. Flowers cylindric; segments variously free or

connate. Anthers not or hardly exserted. Style not or hardly exserted.

la Leaves reflexed:

2a Plant erect; anthers and style distinctly exserted 86. A. pearsonii

2b Plant pendent; anthers and style not or hardly exserted 90. A. dabenorisana

lb Leaves erect to spreading:

3a Flower shorter than 25 mm; plants pendent from rock cracks 89. A. meyeri

3b Flower longer than 25 mm; plants erect or decumbent on sand:

4a Leaves copiously spotted; leaf teeth shorter than 2 mm 88. A. arenicola

4b Leaves not spotted or with few spots; leaf teeth longer than 2 mm 87. A. perfoliata

In this section the flowers are borne on very thin and wiry pedicels ± as long as the flowers. The

racemes are subdensely subcapitate, and the inflorescences are generally simple or with few

branches. The stems are elongated, but the leaves are much broader and stouter than those of sec-

tion 15, Macrifoliae. In section Aloe, the stems are often decumbent, a character that is very unusual

in Macrifoliae.

86. Aloe pearsonii Schonland in Records of

the Albany Museum 2: 229 (1911); H. Pearson:

190 (1911); Reynolds: 366 (1950); Jeppe: 23

(1969); Soldi, Roessler & Merxm.: 18 (1970);

D.S. Hardy: t. 1594 (1970); Bomman & D.S.Har-

dy: 201 (1972); Jankowitz: 44 (1975); B.-E. van

Wyk & G.F.Sm.: 118 (1996). Type: Northern

Cape, Richtersveld, Pearson 6091 (GRA, holo.!;

BM!, BOL!, SAM!; PRE. photo.!).

Plants erect, shrubby, 1-2 m tall. Leaves

appearing 4- or 5-ranked, reflexed, 50-90 x

15-30 mm, biconvex to slightly channelled,

maroon-red to greenish, with faint reddish stri-

ae, keel not dentate. Inflorescence lateral, sim-

ple to 3-branched, with scattered sterile bracts;

racemes conical, subdense to capitate, very

dense; bracts ± 6-7 x 4 mm, 1-3-nerved. Flow-

ers golden yellow, or red with golden expanded

mouth, straight, narrow, 20-25 mm long; outer

segments free to middle, inner segments free

but dorsally adnate to outer for ± half their

length; pedicels ± 21 mm long. Anthers exsert-

ed 2^1 mm. Ovaiy 6-7 x 2-3 mm; style exsert-

100

ALOACEAE: Aloe

ed 5-6 mm. Fruit ± 22 x 7-8 mm. Flowering

time January to February.

Aloe pearsonii occurs in pockets of sandy

soil among rocks in one of the hottest and driest

parts of the Namaqualand fog belt in Namibia

and the Northern Cape. Precipitation is mostly

from nocturnal mist, and rain is very scanty,

mostly in winter. Map 63.

The habit of A. pearsonii recalls that of

species of section 15, Macrifoliae , but the

leaves of this species are much thicker, shorter

and more leathery than any in that section. The

flowers of A. pearsonii are narrow and cylin-

dric, borne on long pedicels, unlike any in sec-

tion Macrifoliae. These characters, and micro-

scopical details of the leaf surface anatomy,

indicate that this species is much better placed

here. The leaves of A. pearsonii are smaller than

those of any species in section Aloe except A.

arenicola (no. 88). In that species the stems are

decumbent, and the leaves are incurved, with

white spots and cartilaginous margins. In A.

pearsonii the stems are rigidly erect, the leaves

are reflexed and unspotted and the margins are

not cartilaginous. A. dabenorisana (no. 90) is

similar to A. pearsonii in having reflexed

leaves, but in that species the leaves are larger,

the plant is pendent not erect, and the anthers

and style are not or hardly exserted. This is one

of the slowest-growing of all aloes, and some of

Map 63. — • Aloe pearsonii

★ A. perfoliata

the large shrubs in the Richtersveld are proba-

bly several hundred years old.

Prof. H.H.W. Pearson (1870-1916), after

whom this species is named, was the first Harry

Bolus Professor of Botany at the South African

College (now University of Cape Town), and

founded the National Botanical Gardens at

Kirstenbosch. He collected the type specimen of

this species on the first Percy Sladen Memorial

Expedition to the Richtersveld in 1910-1911.

Vouchers: Dinter 8185 (BM, BOL, K, PRE);

Glen 1501 (PRE); Leistner 3411 (PRE); Rodin

1601 (PRE).

87. Aloe perfoliata L., Species plantarum:

320 (1753); Webb: 20 (1980) non Thunb.

Iconotype: Aloe africana mitraeformis spinosa

Dillenius, Hortus elthamensis 21, t. 17, fig. 19

(1732).

A. perfoliata L. var. v L.: 320 (1753). Iconotype: Aloe

africana mitraeformis spinosa Dillenius, Hortus elthamen-

sis 21, t. 17, fig. 19 (1732).

A. mitriformis Mill.: no. 1 (1768); Lam.: 87 (1783): DC.:

t. 99 (1802); Ker Gawl.: t. 1270 (1810b); W.T.Aiton: 293

(1811); Haw.: 77 (1812); Haw.: 43 (1821): Salm-Dyck: 24,

t. 4 (1854); Baker: 319 (1896a); A. Berger: 276 (1908);

Reynolds: 371 (1950); Jeppe: 20 (1969); Bomman &

D.S. Hardy: 203 (1972); Marais (1980): B.-E. van Wyk &

G.F.Sm.: 116 (1996). A perfoliata L. var. mitriformis

(Mill.) Aiton: 467 (1789). Iconotype: Aloe africana mitrae-

formis spinosa Dillenius, Hortus elthamensis 21, t. 17, fig.

19 (1732).

A. mitriformis Mill. var. angustior Lam.: 87 (1783). Type:

not cited.

A. perfoliata L. var. b rev if o l ia Aiton: 467 (1789). A. mitri-

formis Mill. var. brevifolia (Aiton) W.T.Aiton: 294 (1811);

Ker Gawl.: t. 1362 (1811b). Type: not cited.

A. peifoliata L. var. k Willd. : 186 (1799). Type: not cited.

A. albispina Haw.: 22 (1804); Haw.: 78 (1812); Baker:

320 (1896a). A. mitriformis Mill. var. albispina (Haw.)

A. Berger: 278 (1908). Type: not cited.

A. brevifolia (Aiton) Haw.: 23 (1804) non Mill. Type: not

cited.

A. flavispina Haw.: 22 (1804); Haw.: 77 (1812); Salm-

Dyck: 24, t. 2 (1863). A. mitriformis Mill. var. flavispina

ALOACEAE: Aloe

101

(Haw.) Baker: 171 (1880a); Baker: 319 (1896a); A. Berger:

278 (1908). Type: not cited.

A. mitriformis Mill. var. elatior Haw.: 23 (1804). Type:

not cited.

A. mitriformis Mill. var. humilior Haw.: 23 (1804); Willd.:

282 (1811). Type: not cited.

A. commelinii Willd.: 282 (1811); Haw.: 47 (1819); Haw.:

43 (1821); Salm-Dyck: 24, t. 5 (1863). A. mitriformis Mill,

var. commelinii (Willd.) Baker: 171 (1880a); Baker: 319

(1896a); A. Berger: 277 (1908). Type: not cited.

A. xanthacantha Willd.: 282 (1811); Salm-Dyck: 24, t. 3

(1854). A. mitriformis Mill. var. xanthacantha (Willd.)

Baker: 172 (1880a); Baker: 319 (1896a); A.Berger: 277

(1908). Type: not cited.

A. distans Haw.: 78 (1812); Haw.: 43 ( 1821); Salm-Dyck:

24, t. 1 (1854); Baker: 319 (1896a); A.Berger: 274 (1908);

Reynolds: 377 (1950); Jeppe: 21 (1969); Bomman &

D.S. Hardy: 205 (1972): B.-E. van Wyk & G.F.Sm.: 112

(1996) — synon. nov. Type: not cited.

A. parvispina Schonland: 283 (1905a); A.Berger: 280

(1908). Type: Western Cape. Heerenlogementsberg. Zeyher

4176 (SAM?).

A. comptonii Reynolds: 382 (1950); Jeppe: 19 (1969):

Bornman & D.S. Hardy: 209 (1972); B.-E. van Wyk &

G.F.Sm.: 108 (1996). Type: Western Cape, Uniondale,

Reynolds 5725 (PRE!).

Plants erect to decumbent, rarely pendent,

0. 3-1.0 m tall, decumbent and pendent forms

with stems up to 2 m long, rarely longer. Leaves

20 or more per stem, in a rosette or spirally

arranged, erectly spreading to arcuate-incurved,

120-300 x 50-150 mm, glaucous green to dull

green, keels usually dentate. Inflorescence

2-5-branched, 400-600 mm tall, with sterile

bracts above first branch; racemes very dense,

capitate to shortly conical; bracts 7-10 x 3-6

mm, 3-5-nerved. Flowers coral-red to scarlet,

25^15 mm long; all segments free; pedicels

25-45 mm long. Anthers very shortly exserted.

Ovary 7-8 x 2-3 mm, green; style very shortly

exserted. Fruit 24-28 x 8-12 mm, grey-brown.

Flowering time August to February, depending

on locality.

Aloe perfoliata occurs in the Western and

Eastern Cape, on sand and clay, and even in

cracks in rock on cliffs, where it may become

pendent. The surrounding vegetation is usually

a form of dry fynbos, though at the eastern end

of its range this species may grow in karoo or

grassland. Map 63.

Some forms of this variable species ap-

proach A. arenicola (no. 88) very closely. The

leaves of that species are copiously spotted and

have whitish horny margins, while in A. perfo-

liata the leaves are not or sparsely spotted, and

the margins are not horny. Large-leaved forms

of this species bear a superficial resemblance to

A. meyeri (no. 89), which usually has a simple,

much shorter inflorescence in which the flowers

are shorter and narrower.

Linnaeus (1737, 1748) and Van Royen

(1740) used a phrase-name for this plant indi-

cating that the leaf bases clasp the stem. This

evidently suggested the specific epithet (trivial

name), which indicates that the stem passes

through the leaves, to Linnaeus.

Vouchers: Boucher 3550 (PRE, STE); Hardy

249 (PRE); Leach & Carp 11359 (PRE); Marsh

1373 (PRE, STE); Reynolds 4839 (BM, PRE,

SAM).

Hybrid:

A. peifoliata x A. maculata (no. 45). See A.

metadata.

88. Aloe arenicola Reynolds in Journal of

South African Botany 4: 21 (1938e); Reynolds:

379 (1950); I.Verd.: t. 1467 (1966); Jeppe: 22

(1969); Bornman & D.S. Hardy: 207 (1972); B.-

E. van Wyk & G.F.Sm.: 106 ( 1996). Type: North-

ern Cape, near Kleinzee, Reynolds 2574 (PRE,

holo.!; BOL!).

Plants decumbent, 1 50 — 400 mm tall, leaves

present in apical 200-300 mm of stems. Leaves

± 20 per stem, broadly deltoid, 120-200 x

35-60 mm, bluish green with scattered white

spots, keels rarely dentate. Inflorescence a sim-

ple to twice-branched, very dense, capitate

raceme, up to 500 mm tall; peduncle with few

sterile bracts; bracts ovate, 9-1 1 x 3-5 mm, 5-

102

ALOACEAE: Aloe

Figure 16. — Section Aloe. Aloe meyeri: habit, x 0.8. Taken from Glen & Hardy (1993).

ALOACEAE: Aloe

103

Map 64. — • Aloe arenicola

★ A. meyeri

▲ A. dabenorisana

nerved. Flowers orange-red, 30^-0 mm long;

outer segments free for ± half their length, inner

segments free but adhering to outer for ± half

their length; pedicels 35-50 mm long. Anthers

exserted up to 3 mm. Ovary 7-8 x 2-3 mm;

style exserted up to 6 mm. Fruit not seen.

Flowering time October to January.

Aloe arenicola occurs in the Northern and

Western Cape, and grows only on sand within a

few hundred metres of the beach, in the winter-

rainfall area in coastal fynbos and succulent

karoo. Map 64.

Differences between this species and A. per-

foliata (no. 87) are dealt with under that species.

The leaves of A. arenicola are similar in size to

those of A. meyeri (no. 89), but the two species

differ in numerous characters and are difficult

to confuse. A. arenicola is decumbent on sand

near the coast, with leaves which clothe the

elongated stem, whereas A. meyeri is pendent

on rocks further inland, and bears its leaves in a

distinct rosette. The inflorescences of A. areni-

cola are longer than those of A. meyeri , and bear

larger flowers on longer pedicels.

The specific epithet describes the habitat of

this species; it is derived from two Latin words

(h)arena (= sand) and colere (= to dwell, fre-

quent or inhabit), hence, the sand-dwelling aloe.

Vouchers: Compton 21885 (NBG); Hardy

1934 (PRE); Leach & Carp 11378 (K, PRE,

SRGH); Le Roux 2640 (BOL); Pillans 8368

(BOL).

Hybrid:

A. arenicola x A. krapohliana (no. 30). See

A. krapohliana.

89. Aloe meyeri Van Jaarsv. in Journal of

South African Botany 47: 567 (1981); Vorster:

175 (1983); Glen & D.S. Hardy: t. 2065 (1993);

B. -E. van Wyk & G.F.Sm.: 114 (1996). Type:

Northern Cape. Richtersveld, Van Jaarsveld 6137

(NBG!).

A. richtersveldensis Venter & Beukes: 675 (1982). Type:

Northern Cape. Richtersveld, Venter 8264 (BLFU, holo.; K,

PRE!).

Plants pendent; stems simple or branched.

Leaves in an elongated rosette ± 300 mm long;

spreading to erect, not recurved, lanceolate,

130-200 x 30-A0 mm, dull green, sometimes

tinged reddish brown. Inflorescence a simple,

rarely branched, dense, capitate raceme, 150-250

mm long; peduncle reflexed, with sterile bracts;

bracts ± 5 x 2-3 mm, 3-nerved. Flowers

orange-red, tipped green, 20-23 mm long; all

segments free; pedicels 17-20 mm long.

Anthers exserted up to 3 mm. Ovary ± 4—5 x 2

mm, green; style exserted up to 3 mm. Fruit not

seen. Flowering time December to February.

Figure 16.

Aloe meyeri is endemic to the Northern Cape

and grows in rock cracks on cliffs in one of the

most arid parts of the winter-rainfall area. In the

range of this species, most of the precipitation

received is in the form of condensation from

fog. Map 64.

Differences between this species on the one

hand and A. perfoliata (no. 87) and A. arenico-

la (no. 88) on the other are dealt with under

those species. The leaves of A. meyeri are erect

to spreading, unlike those of A. dabenorisana

(no. 90), which are reflexed, and are smaller

than those of that species. The inflorescence is

104

ALOACEAE: Aloe

smaller and the bracts are 3-nerved, not 1-

nerved.

This species is named after Rev. L.G. Meyer

(1867-1958), who discovered it while on an

expedition to the Richtersveld with A.G.J.

Herre in 1939. Rev. Meyer was a missionary in

Namaqualand, where he collected many plants

and insects. L. Bolus named a number of his

new discoveries in the Mesembryanthemaceae

after him (Gunn & Codd 1981).

Vouchers: Ihlenfeldt PRE639897 (PRE); Van

Jaarsveld 5530 (NBG).

90. Aloe dabenorisana Van Jaarsv. in Jour-

nal of South African Botany 48: 419 (1982); B.-

E. van Wyk & G.F.Sm.: 110 (1996). Type:

Northern Cape, Dabenoris Mts, Van Jaarsveld

& Kritzinger 6426 (NBG, holo.!; PRE, photo.!).

Plants pendent, usually in clumps up to 800

mm in diameter. Leaves 4- or 5-ranked in young

plants, later rosulate, rosettes up to ± 450 x 450

mm, strongly recurved, narrowly lanceolate-

acuminate, 200-400 x 40-55 mm, slightly

channelled, green to reddish, striate when

green. Inflorescence usually a 2-4-branched,

dense, capitate to conical raceme, 250-300 mm

long; peduncle reflexed, with few sterile bracts;

bracts 6-10 x 2-3 mm, 1 -nerved. Flowers red to

yellow, 23-25 mm long; all segments free;

pedicels 20-30 mm long. Anthers not or slight-

ly exserted. Ovary 5-7 x 2-3 mm, green; style

not or slightly exserted. Fruit not seen. Flower-

ing time sporadically throughout the year, but

mostly August to November.

Aloe dabenorisana is endemic to the North-

ern Cape and grows on almost inaccessible

cliffs on the highest of the Orange River hills, in

an area of arid Namaqualand Broken Veld. Rain

is equally unlikely in all seasons, and mist pre-

cipitation is probably important in the water

relations of this species. Map 64.

With its pendent habit, recurved leaves and

1 -nerved bracts, this species is difficult to con-

fuse with any other. Differences between it on

the one hand and A. pearsonii (no. 86) and A.

meyeri (no. 89) on the other are discussed under

those species.

This species is named after the type locality,

an almost inaccessible hill near the lower

Orange River.

Voucher: Van Jaarsveld & Patterson 6638

(NBG).

17. Section Purpurascentes

Section Purpurascentes Salm-Dyck , Monographia generum Aloes et Mesembryanthemi: 22

(1842). Type species: A. succotrina All.

Series Purpurascentes (Salm-Dyck) A. Berger: 282 (1908); Reynolds: 389 (1950).

Plants solitary or in dense groups, stemless or caulescent. Leaves densely rosulate, ensiform,

with or without white spots, margins dentate with stout teeth. Inflorescence a simple to 8-branched

cylindric to conical raceme with sterile bracts. Flowers spreading to pendulous, cylindric to cylin-

dric-trigonous, sometimes subventricose or widening gradually towards mouth; segments free.

Anthers variously exserted. Style variously exserted.

la Plants solitary:

2a Bracts shorter than pedicels; flower cylindric, subclavate

92a. A. microstigma subsp. microstigma

2b Bracts longer than pedicels; flower cylindric-trigonous, ventricose 93. A. gariepensis

lb Plants in clumps:

ALOACEAE: Aloe

105

3a Inflorescence simple; leaves usually unspotted; sap purple 91 . A. succotrina

3b Inflorescence branched; leaves usually copiously spotted; sap yellow

92b. A. microstigma subsp . frame sii

Species of this section are typically plants of the winter-rainfall area of the Western and

Northern Cape, unlike those of section 18, Arborescentes, which with few exceptions grow in the

summer-rainfall area. The leaves of plants in this section are often randomly spotted or lined. When

fresh, they are green tinged with purple, or even rust-brown with no trace of green in A. gariepen-

sis , but only in A. succotrina do they dry deep purple.

91 . Aloe succotrina AIL, Auctarium ad sy-

nopsin methodicam stirpium horti regii

Taurinensis: 13 (1773); Lam.: 85 (1783); Salm-

Dyck; 22, t. 1 (1842); Baker: 321 (1896a);

A. Berger: 282 (1908); Reynolds; 1 (1948b);

Reynolds: 389 (1950); Adamson: 171 (1950);

Jeppe: 50 (1969); Bornman & D.S. Hardy: 213

(1972); B.-E. van Wyk & G.F.Sm.: 88 (1996).

Iconotype: A. succotrina, angustifolia spinosa,

flore purpureo J.Commelijn, Horti medici

Amstelaedamensis 1: 91, t. 48 (1697).

A. perfoliate i L. var. L.: 320 (1753). Type: not cited.

A. vera Mill.: no. 15 (1768) non (L.) Burm.f. Type: not

cited.

A. perfoliata L. var. purpurascens Aiton: 466 (1789). A.

purpurascens (Aiton) Haw.: 20 (1804): W.T. Aiton: 292

(181 1); Haw.: 75 (1812); Salm-Dyck: 22, t. 2 (1842); Baker:

322 (1896a); A. Berger: 284 ( 1908). A. socotrina DC. b pur-

purascens (Aiton) Ker Gawk: t. 1474 (1812b). Type: not

cited.

A. perfoliata L. var. succotrina (Lam.) Aiton: 466 (1789);

Curtis: t. 472 (1800). Type: not cited.

A. sinuata Thunb.: 61 (1794); Thunb.: 311 (1823). Type:

not cited.

A. socotrina DC.: t. 85 (1802). Type: not cited.

A. soccotorina Schult. & Schult.f.: 701 (1829). Type: not

cited.

A. succotrina All. var. saxigena A. Berger: 283 (1908).

Type: Western Cape, Steenbras River Mouth, Marloth 4357

(B).

Plants in dense groups, almost stemless to

shrubby, 1-2 m tall. Leaves many, arcuate-erect,

250-500 x 35-100 mm, grey to grey-green,

obscurely lined, sometimes with few white spots.

Inflorescence usually a simple, dense, conical

raceme 0.75-1.0 m tall; peduncle with many

sterile bracts; bracts lanceolate-acute to obovate-

acute, 15-21 x 5-10 mm, 5-many-nerved.

Flowers glossy red to salmon, 25—40 mm long;

pedicels 20-30 mm long. Anthers exserted 3-5

mm. Ovary 7-9 x 2-3 mm, green; style exserted

5-8 mm. Fruit not seen. Flowering time July to

August.

Aloe succotrina occurs in mountain fynbos on

Table Mountain sandstone in the southwestern

comer of the Western Cape in areas of high win-

ter rainfall, generally close to the sea. Map 65.

This species is easily confused with A. ar-

borescens (no. 96). It may be distinguished by

the leaf sap, which dries such an intense shade of

purple that the whole dried leaf is stained almost

black (not golden yellow), and by the narrower

almost cylindric racemes of slightly shorter

flowers on shorter pedicels. A. microstigma (no.

Map 65. — • Aloe succotrina

★ A. gariepensis

106

ALOACEAE: Aloe

92) has more broadly conical racemes, which are

often bicoloured as the flowers in most popula-

tions of that species change colour as they

mature, and has leaves with many more spots and

which do not dry purple.

Reynolds (1950: 394) offers two explana-

tions of the specific name, and points out that

both rest on misunderstandings of the plant in

question. The simpler is that this species was

thought to be the source of the drug Socotran

aloes, and so the word succotrina should be

translated as ‘Socotran’. The other is that it is

derived from the Latin phrase succo citrino

meaning 'with yellow juice’ (although one of

the most distinctive features of this species is its

purple juice).

Vouchers: Boucher 582 (PRE, STE); Mac-

Murtry 202 (PRE); Marloth 10033 (PRE);

Reynolds 5132 (PRE); Van Balen 951 (PRE).

Hybrid:

A. succotrina x A. arborescens Mill. (no. 96).

Voucher: Becker s.n. (K) is possibly this hybrid.

92. Aloe microstigma Salm-Dyck , Mono-

graphia generum Aloes et Mesembryanthemi:

26, t. 4 (1854); Baker: 316 (1896a); A. Berger:

285 (1908); Reynolds: 396 (1950); Jeppe: 33

(1969); Solch, Roessler & Merxnr.: 18 (1970);

Bornman & D.S. Hardy: 215 (1972); Jankowitz:

26 (1975); B.-E. van Wyk & G.F.Snr.: 176 ( 1996).

Iconotype: Salm-Dyck, Monographia generum

Aloes et Mesembryanthemi: 26, t. 4 (1854).

A. juttae Dinter: 159 (1923b). Type: Namibia, between

Gubub and Aus. Dinter 3601 (B, holo.: BOL!, PRE!).

A. brunnthaleri A.Berger ex Cammerloher: 131 (1933).

Type: Western Cape, Matjiesfontein, Brunnthaler (Bf?).

A. khamiesensis Pillans: 25 (1934b); Reynolds: 404

(1950); Jeppe: 51 (1969); Bornman & D.S. Hardy: 221

(1972); B.-E. van Wyk & G.F.Sm.: 174 (1996). Type:

Northern Cape, Khamieskroon, Pillans 6665 (BOL, holo.!;

NBG!).

Plants solitary, stemless or caulescent, 0.5-

2.0 m tall. Leaves many, lanceolate-deltoid,

arcuate-erect, 200-500 x 15-80 mm, green with

reddish tinge, obscurely lined, with irregular H-

shaped white spots. Inflorescence a simple,

dense, conical raceme, 2-5 simultaneously;

peduncle with many sterile bracts; bracts lance-

olate-acute to ovate-acute, 15-19 x 4-8 mm,

7-many-nerved. Flowers dull red to yellow in

bud, orange later, greenish yellow or yellow at

flowering, subventricose with slight constric-

tion at mouth. 18-30 mm long; pedicels 14-30

mm long. Anthers exserted 1-3 mm. Ovary

4. 0-8.0 x 1. 5-3.0 mm, green; style exserted up

to 3 mm. Fruit 20.0-30.0 x 7. 5-9.0 mm, grey-

brown tinged with maroon.

Differences between this species on the one

hand and A. succotrina (no. 91) and A. gariep-

ensis (no. 93) on the other, are discussed under

those species. This is a very variable species,

and individual characters seem to vary indepen-

dently.

The specific epithet is derived from two Greek

words meaning ‘small stigma'.

Two subspecies are recognised:

Plants solitary; stems, where visible, re-

cumbent to erect; plants from inland

localities 92a. subsp. microstigma

Plants in clumps; stems, where visible,

decumbent, rarely oblique to erect;

most plants from coastal plain ....

92b. subsp. frame sii

92a. subsp. microstigma.

Description as for species. Flowering time

May to August.

Aloe microstigma subsp. microstigma grows

on rocky outcrops in karoo, desert, semidesert

and Namaqualand broken veld, generally inland

of the Western Cape escarpment (Western and

Northern Cape Provinces) and as far north as

Aus in Namibia. Map 66.

Plants of this subspecies may be almost

stemless or have oblique to erect stems, but the

ALOACEAE: Aloe

107

Map 66. — • Aloe microstigma subsp. microstigma

★ A. microstigma subsp. framesii

stems are usually not recumbent. They occur as

solitary individuals or rarely with stems branch-

ed once or twice. The inflorescences are usual-

ly simple and the racemes bicoloured.

Vouchers: Giess 13368 (MO. PRE, WIND);

Hardy 5056 (PRE); Lewis 3217 (SAM); Muir

3619 (PRE); Reynolds 5440 (PRE. SAM).

Hybrids:

E A. microstigma subsp. microstigma x A.

humilis (no. 29). See A. humilis.

2. A. microstigma subsp. microstigma X A. afri-

cana (no. 109). Voucher: Reynolds 1422 (PRE).

92b. subsp. framesii (L.Bolus) Glen &

D.S. Hardy, comb, et stat. nov.

Type: Northern Cape, near Port Nolloth,

Frames BOL19186 (BOL!).

A. framesii L.Bolus in South African Gardening and Country

Life 23: 140 (1933); Pole Evans: t. 731 (1939c); Reynolds: 403

( 1950); Jeppe: 26 (1969); Bomman & D.S. Hardy: 219 (1972);

B.-E. van Wyk & G.F.Sm.: 170 (1996).

A. amoena Pillans: 168 (1933c). Type: Western Cape, near

Vanrhynsdorp. Pillans BOLI6024 (BOL!).

Plants in dense groups. Leaves lanceolate,

arcuate-incurved to erectly spreading, grey-

green to bluish green, with 0-many irregular

white spots. Inflorescence usually 2- or 3-

branched below middle, up to 700 mm tall;

peduncles with few ovate-acuminate sterile

bracts. Flowers scarlet to orange, 25-35 mm

long; style exserted 2-6 mm. Flowering time

June to August.

Aloe microstigma subsp. framesii grows on

sand on the coastal plain of the Northern and

Western Cape, below the escarpment. One

exceptional gathering of this subspecies is

known from the top of the escarpment. Map 66.

Plants of this subspecies are almost stemless

or with short, recumbent or rarely oblique

stems. They rarely occur as solitary individuals,

but usually in large clumps. The inflorescences

are usually 2- or 3-branched, with unicoloured

racemes.

This subspecies is named after Mr P. Ross

Frames (1863-1947), an enthusiastic collector

of succulent plants and sometime member of

the Board of Trustees of the National Botanic

Gardens (Kirstenbosch), who collected the type

specimen.

Vouchers: Hall 731 (NBG); Marloth 10996

(PRE); Marsh 186 (PRE); Pole Evans s.n. (K);

Reynolds 2558 (BOL, PRE).

93. Aloe gariepensis Pillans in South

African Gardening and Country Life 23: 213

(1933a); Reynolds: 400 (1950); Jeppe: 32

(1969); Solch, Roessler & Merxm.: 16 (1970);

Bomman & D.S. Hardy: 217 (1972); I.Verd.: t.

1654 (1972); Jankowitz: 28 (1975); B.-E. van

Wyk & G.F.Sm.: 172 (1996). Type: Namibia,

near Warmbad, Pillans 6557 (BOL!).

A. gariusana Dinter: 31 (1928) nom. nud.

Plants usually solitary, stemless to short-

stemmed, up to 1 m tall. Leaves many, lanceo-

late to deltoid, arcuate-erect to arcuate-

incurved. 250-500 x 50-90 mm, dull green to

reddish brown, obscurely lined, with or without

spots. Inflorescence a simple, very dense, cylin-

108

ALOACEAE: Aloe

2

Figure 17. — Section Purpurascentes. Aloe gariepensis: 1, portion of leaf, lower and apical section of raceme; 2, bract

from base of raceme, x 1.3; 3, longitudinal section of flower, x 1.5; 4, habit. Taken from Verdoom (1972).

ALOACEAE: Aloe

109

dric to conical raceme, 3-5 simultaneously,

0.8-1. 2 m tall; peduncle with many sterile

bracts; bracts narrowly lanceolate-acuminate,

17-26 x 6-8 mm, 5-7-nerved. Flowers usually

yellow, rarely brick-red, 16-27 mm long;

pedicels 12-20 mm long, lengthening to ± 25

mm in fruit. Anthers exserted 1-5 mm. Ovary

4.0-5. 0 x 1 .5-2.0 mm, green; style exserted 3-6

mm. Fruit ± 14-16 x 8-9 mm, yellow-brown.

Seeds ± 5 x 2 x 1 mm, black with pale trans-

verse wings at each end. Flowering time July to

September. Figure 17.

This species is found in Namibia and the

Northern Cape. Typically it grows in rock

cracks on steep slopes close to the Orange River

in the driest part of its course. In some localities

it occurs in small pockets of sandy soil on rocky

outcrops. Map 65.

Aloe gariepensis is the only species in this

section in which the flowers are usually yellow

both in bud and at flowering. Plants are usually

solitary, unlike the much-branched, shrubby A.

succotrina (no. 91), and the leaf sap does not

dry purple, with the result that dried leaves are

not this colour. The leaves of A. gariepensis are

lined, and may be spotted or unspotted. The

eastern form of this species is much more robust

than the type.

This species is named after the type locality

Igarib , a Khoikhoi word meaning a large (or

possibly permanent) river, and in particular the

Orange River.

Vouchers: Dinter 5211 (BOL, PRE); Giess

14510 (PRE); Hardy 2314 (PRE); Marloth

13249 (PRE, STE); Reynolds 2555 (PRE).

Hybrid:

A. gariepensis xA. krapohliana (no. 30). See

A. krapohliana.

18. Section Arborescentes

Section Arborescentes Salm-Dyck, Monographia generum Aloes et Mesembryanthemi: 26 (1849).

Type species: A. arhorescens Mill.

Series Arborescentes (Salm-Dyck) A. Berger: 287 (1908); Reynolds: 406 ( 1950).

Plants stemless to tree-like; stems with few to many branches. Leaves densely rosulate, ensiform,

margins dentate with cartilaginous teeth. Inflorescence simple or branched, cylindric to conical

racemes; peduncles with sterile bracts. Flowers pendulous at anthesis, straight, cylindric, segments

free. Anthers hardly to distinctly exserted. Style hardly to distinctly exserted.

la Inflorescence simple:

2a Plants erect; usually in dense clumps; stem branched at or near- ground level; inflores-

cence ± 800 mm tall 96. A. arhorescens

2b Plants pendent; solitary; inflorescence ± 250 mm tall 95. A. hardyi

lb Inflorescence branched:

3a Plants with a distinct trunk, 2 to 3 m tall; leaves up to 60 mm wide 97. A. pluridens

3b Plants almost stemless, up to 600 mm tall; leaves wider than 80 mm 94. A. vanbalenii

In tropical Africa the shrubby aloes are a very difficult group, with polyploidy and hybridisation

frequently complicating an already involved picture. The southern African representatives of this

section may be regarded as illustrating the extremes of variation in the group, with two species

being arborescent, one being pendent and one forming dense, low clumps. Unlike section 17,

Purpurascentes, this section occurs in the summer-rainfall area or in the area of rain in all seasons.

110

ALOACEAE: Aloe

3

Figure 18. — Section Arborescentes. Aloe hardyi: 1, upper part of leaf, x 0.9; 2, inflorescence, x 0.9; 3, habit, much

reduced; 4, transverse section of leaf, x 0.9. Taken from Glen (1987).

ALOACEAE: Aloe

with only isolated populations of A. arborescens in the winter-rainfall area. Flowers in this section

have broader flower tubes and more exserted anthers and stamens than those in section

Purpurascentes. The leaves of the arborescent aloes lack the spots, longitudinal lines and purplish

tinge of those of section Purpurascentes ; in no species in this section do they dry purple.

94. Aloe vanbalenii Pillans in South

African Gardening and Country Life 24: 25

(1934b); Pole Evans: t. 608 (1936i); Reynolds:

420 (1950); Jeppe: 104 (1969); Bomman &

D.S. Hardy: 229 (1972); Compton: 102 (1976);

B.-E. van Wyk & G.F.Sm.: 90 (1996). Type:

KwaZulu-Natal, near Mahlabathini, J.C. van

Balen NBG2778/29 (BOL!).

Plants almost stemless, 300-600 mm tall, in

dense groups. Leaves many per rosette, 500-

800 x 90-150 mm, deeply channelled, green to

copper-red. Inflorescence a 2- or 3-branched

dense, cylindric-conical raceme ± 1 m tall;

peduncle without sterile bracts below first

branch; bracts ovate-obtuse, 15-17 x 6-7 mm,

7-many-nerved. Flowers orange-yellow, dull

red or bicoloured, 30-40 mm long; pedicels

14-23 mm long, lengthening to 25-30 mm in

fruit. Anthers exserted 1-10 mm. Ovary ±5x2

mm; style exserted 9-12 mm. Fruit not seen.

Flowering time June to July.

Aloe vanbalenii grows on flat rocks and

rocky outcrops with minimal amounts of soil in

Acocks’s (1988) Nkonkoni Veld and Zululand

Thornveld in Swaziland and KwaZulu-Natal.

This area is frost-free and has moderately high

summer rainfall. Map 67.

The almost stemless, suckering habit and

broad, deeply channelled (U-shaped in section),

recurved leaves of this species distinguish it

from all others of this section. The leaves

resemble those of A. alooides (no. 101), but that

species is caulescent and has much smaller, ses-

sile flowers.

The species is named after Mr J.C. van Balen

(1894-1956), a noted horticulturist, who col-

lected the type specimen. The Zulu common

names icenalamatshe and icenandhlovu are

recorded for this species (Reynolds 1950).

Map 67. — • Aloe vanbalenii

★ A. hardyi

▲ A. pluridens

Vouchers: Christian 615 (SRGH); Gerstner

564 (BOL); Reynolds 5376 (BM, PRE); Ward

2628 (NH, NU, PRE).

95. Aloe hardyi Glen in The Flowering

Plants of Africa 49: t. 1942 (1987); B.-E. van

Wyk & G.F.Sm.: 82 (1996). Type: Mpumalanga,

Lydenburg District, Fourie 3252 (PRE!).

Plants pendent; stems up to ± 1.5 m long,

rosettes 300-600 x 300-600 mm. Leaves some-

times distichous, 12-20 per rosette, hanging,

400-700 x 50-80 mm, glaucous blue-green.

Inflorescence a simple, subdense, conical to

subcapitate raceme, 2 or 3 simultaneously, ±

250 mm long; peduncle with few truncate ster-

ile bracts; bracts obovate-acute, 14-17 x 10-15

mm, many-nerved. Flowers pink to red. slight-

ly trigonously indented, 25-35 mm long;

pedicels 15-30 mm long. Anthers exserted up to

5 mm. Style exserted up to 8 mm. Flowering

time June to August. Figure 18.

Aloe hardyi occurs in almost inaccessible

places on cliffs on the escarpment in the Northern

112

ALOACEAE: Aloe

Province. Its exact range is not known because of

the difficulty of approaching plants. It grows in

the mist belt in an area of high summer rainfall,

warm summers and cold winters. The area in

which it occurs is notable for the high proportion

of endemism in the local flora. Map 67.

The two aloes most similar to this species are

A. arborescens (no. 96) and the Angolan species

A. mendesii. Differences between this species

and A. arborescens are discussed under that

species. A. mendesii is also a pendent species

with hanging leaves and conical racemes, but it

has much narrower bracts with only 5 nerves,

shorter pedicels and flowers, and less exserted

anthers and styles.

This species was named after the late Dave

Hardy in recognition of his many years of study

of all African succulents, but particularly of the

genus Aloe. This study has culminated in his

valued co-authorship of this treatment.

Voucher: Glen 1807 (PRE).

96. Aloe arborescens Mill., The gardener’s

dictionary: no. 3 (1768); DC.: t. 38 (1800);

Andrews: t. 468 (1807); Ker Gawk: t. 1306

(1810c); W.T.Aiton: 292 (1811); Haw.: 76

(1812); Salm-Dyck: 26, t. 3 (1849); Baker: 322

(1896a); A. Berger: 288 (1908); Reynolds: 407

(1950); Adamson: 171 (1950); Jeppe: 48

(1969); Bornman & D.S. Hardy: 223 (1972);

Palmer & Pitman: 375 (1972); West: 91 (1974);

Compton: 97 (1976); B.-E. van Wyk & G.F.Sm.:

74 (1996). Neotype: Eastern Cape, Fort Cunyng-

hame, Galpin 2463 (PRE, holo.!; GRA!), here

designated.

A. perfoliata L. var. r| L.: 320 (1753). Iconotype: A.

africana caulescens, foliis glaucis caulem amplectentibus

C.Commelijn. Horti medici Amstelaedamensis: 27, t. 14

(1706).

A. arborea Medik.: 305 (1783). Based on A. arborescens

Mill.

A. fruticosa Lam.: 87 ( 1783); Pers.: 378 (1805). Type: not

cited.

Catevala arborescens (Mill.) Medik.: 67 (1786). Type:

not cited.

A. perfoliata L. a arborescens (Mill.) Aiton: 466 (1789).

Type: not cited.

A. frutescens Salm-Dyck: 30 (1817); Haw.: 46 (1819). A.

arborescens Mill. var. frutescens (Salm-Dyck) Link: 339

(1821); Baker: 322 (1896a); A. Berger: 293 (1908); Pole

Evans: t. 187 (1925b). Type: not cited.

A. natalensis J.M.Wood & M.S. Evans: 9 (1900);

J.M.Wood & M.S. Evans: 170 (1901); J.M.Wood &

M.S. Evans: t. 258 (1902). A. arborescens Mill. var. natal-

ensis (J.M.Wood & M.S. Evans) A. Berger: 290 (1908);

C.H. Wright: t. 8663 (1916). Type: KwaZulu-Natal. Inanda,

Wood 4342 (NH, holo.!; K!; PRE, photo.!).

A. arborescens Mill. var. milleri A. Berger: 288 (1908).

Type: Hort. Palermo, Schweinfurth s.n. (B?).

A. arborescens Mill. var. pachythyrsa A. Berger: 292

(1908). Iconotype: AiBerger in Das Pflanzenreich 33: 292

(1908).

A. mutabilis Pillans: 167 (1933c); Pole Evans: t. 611

(1936j): Reynolds: 418 (1950); Jeppe: 49 (1969): Bornman

& D.S. Hardy: 227 (1972); B.-E. van Wyk & G.F.Sm.: 84

(1996). Type: Northern Province, near Warmbaths, J.C. van

Balen BOL20477 (= NBG2720/29 ) (BOL!).

Much-branched arborescent shrubs up to 3 m

tall; if on rock faces then solitary to few-

branched. Leaves many per rosette, spreading to

slightly reflexed, 250-600 x 20-70 mm, blue-

green. Inflorescence usually a simple, rarely

branched, dense, broadly conical, ± 800 mm

long raceme; bracts ovate-acute, 12-20 x 7-12

mm, many-nerved. Flowers scarlet throughout,

or becoming yellow at anthesis, 3CM-0 mm

long; pedicels 2CM-0 mm long. Anthers exsert-

ed 1-5 mm. Ovary 4-10 x 1. 5-3.0 mm, green;

style exserted 3-9 mm. Fruit ± 22 x 6-7 mm,

pale grey. Flowering season (April to) June to

July, depending on locality.

Aloe arborescens is found in Botswana,

Swaziland, the Northern Province, North-West,

Gauteng, Mpumalanga, KwaZulu-Natal, the

Western and Eastern Cape; also in Malawi,

Mozambique and Zimbabwe. It usually occurs

in pockets of rich soil on rocky outcrops in

mountains in areas of high summer rainfall. The

Cape Peninsula populations are also found in

rocky places, but here the highest rainfall is in

winter. Plants growing on deep soil probably

indicate abandoned sites of cultivation. Map 68.

ALOACEAE: Aloe

113

This species is one of the most variable of

the southern African representatives of the

genus Aloe. It differs from A. pluridens (no. 97)

in branching much more freely and in having

broader, more glaucous green leaves. The

racemes of A. arborescens are denser, broader

and more obtuse than those of A. pluridens. A.

hardyi (no. 95) is always pendent, whereas A.

arborescens is seldom truly pendent with hang-

ing leaves. In A. Iiardyi the raceme is only about

half the length of that of A. arborescens and it is

somewhat laxer. The pedicels and flowers are

somewhat shorter, but the two species overlap

in these characters.

The specific epithet can be traced back to the

pre-Linnaean phrase-name Aloe africana caules-

cens, foliis glaucis caulem amplectentibus

(Commelijn 1701). The Latin word arborescens

{- tree-forming) was evidently regarded as a

synonym of caulescens (= stem-forming), al-

though the plant becomes a large, much-

branched shrub rather than a tree. Many com-

mon names are recorded for this species, in-

cluding the following: inhlazi, umhlabana,

inkalene ( encane ) (Zulu), sayyan (seKone), and

kransaalwyn (Afrikaans) (Reynolds 1950,

1966; Palmer & Pitman 1972). Although Com-

melijn gives a picture of his plant, which is cited

by Miller (1768), it is at best difficult to identi-

fy Commelin’s seedling with any particular

species of Aloe. Accordingly, a neotype is cho-

sen to stabilise current usage.

Leaf pulp of this species was tested for use in

the treatment of X-ray burns. Although Rey-

nolds (1950) reported that initial results were

encouraging, nothing seems to have come of

this. Several tribal uses have been recorded for

this species, of which the most conspicuous is

as living fences around kraals. In the Eastern

Cape, kraals abandoned within about 50 years,

are easily visible because of the remains of

hedges of this species.

Vouchers: Acocks 10474 (BOL, PRE); Cul-

verwell 815 (PRE); Dyer 3443 (PRE); Reynolds

1290 (PRE); Ward 4192 (PRE).

Hybrids:

1. A. arborescens x A. chortolirioides var.

cliortolirioides (no. 9a). See A. chortolirioides

var. chortolirioides.

2. A. arborescens x A. nubigena (no. 13).

See A. nubigena.

3. A. arborescens x A. pratensis (no. 35). See

A. pratensis.

4. A. arborescens x A. lineata var. lineata

(no. 38a). See A. lineata var. lineata.

5. A. arborescens x A. maculata (no. 45).

See A. maculata.

6. A. arborescens x A. cryptopoda (no. 77).

See A. cryptopoda.

7. A. arborescens x A. succotrina (no. 91).

See A. succotrina.

8. A. arborescens x A. speciosa (no. 98) (= A.

x drepanophylla Baker). Voucher: Cooper s.n.

(K).

9. A. arborescens x A. marlothii var. marlothii

(no. 104a). Vouchers: King 47 (PRE); Reynolds

1315 (BOL); F.Z. van derMenve 308 (PRE).

10. A. arborescens x A. ferox (no. 110) (= A.

x salmdyckiana Schult. & Schult.f.). Vouchers:

Berger s.n. (K); Pillans 967 (BOL, GRA);

Marloth 5492 (PRE); Pole Evans 166 (BM.

PRE); Sparks s.n. (PRE).

114

ALOACEAE: Aloe

97. Aloe pluridens Haw. in The Philo-

sophical Magazine 64: 299 (1824); Baker: 322

(1896a); A.Berger: 294 (1908); Marloth: 76

(1915); Pole Evans: t. 610 (1936k); Reynolds:

415 (1950); Jeppe: 47 (1969); Bornman &

D.S. Hardy: 225 (1972); Glen & G.F.Sm.: 41

(1995); B.-E. van Wyk & G.F.Sm.: 60 (1996).

Neotype: Eastern Cape, near Fort Beaufort,

Reynolds 1419 (PRE!).

A. atherstonei Baker: 170 (1880a). Type: Eastern Cape,

no precise locality, Atherstone s.n. (K).

A. pluridens Haw. var. beckeri Schonland: 43 (1903).

Type: Hort. (?) Mauritius, Becker s.n. (GRAI).

Plants arborescent, 2-3(-5) m tall; stems

with few branches, rarely simple. Leaves 30^40

per rosette, spreading to recurved, 450-700 x

35-60 mm, pale green to yellow-green,

obscurely lined. Inflorescences dense, conical

racemes with up to 4 branches, 0.8- 1.0 m tall,

without sterile bracts below first branch; bracts

ovate-acute to obovate-obtuse, 15-20 x 6-12

mm, many-nerved. Flower salmon-pink to scar-

let, 35-45 mm long; pedicels 17-35 mm long.

Anthers exserted up to 4 mm. Ovary 6-1 1 x 2^4

mm, green; style exserted up to 8 mm. Fruit ±

20 x 1 1 mm, yellow-brown. Flowering time

May to June.

Aloe pluridens is found in KwaZulu-Natal

and the Eastern Cape. Near the southern Cape

coast it usually occurs on relatively deep sandy

soil in valley bushveld. In this area rain may

fall at any time, with a summer maximum, and

the average annual rainfall is relatively low.

Map 67.

This species is taller and more sparsely

branched than A. arborescens (no. 96). The

leaves are narrower and more yellowish green,

and the racemes are laxer, narrower and more

acute than those of A. arborescens. The leaf

teeth are pinkish white, not glaucous white, and

the leaf sap has a distinctive sharp odour. The

only other tall, single-stemmed Aloe in the

range of A. pluridens is A. ferox (no. 110),

which is a much stouter plant with broader,

firmer leaves and dense subcylindric racemes of

subsessile flowers.

The ‘many-toothed tree-aloe’ has leaves in

which the teeth are somewhat more distinct than

in A. arborescens , hence the Latin and English

names given by Haworth. Common names

recorded for this species include French aloe,

fransaalwyn (Afrikaans) and garaa (Khoi)

(Palmer & Pitman 1972).

Vouchers: Bayliss BRI-B226 (PRE); Mac-

Owan 1825 (BM, GRA, K, SAM); Marloth

5137 (PRE); Paterson 69 (PRE); Reynolds

2386 (PRE).

Hybrid:

A. pluridens x A. ferox (no. 110). Voucher:

Reynolds 1424 (BOL, PRE).

19. Section Principales

Section Principales (A.Berger) Glen & D.S. Hardy, stat. nov. Type species: A. speciosa Baker.

Series Principales A.Berger in Botanische Jahrbiicher 36: 48 ( 1905a); A.Berger: 296 (1908): Reynolds: 422 (1950).

Plants arborescent, 3^)(-6) m tall; stems simple or branched, rosettes usually tilted slightly side-

ways. Leaves many, rosulate, erect to spreading, 400-800 x 40-95 mm, slightly channelled to D-

shaped in section, green to glaucous green with bluish to reddish tinge, margins with minute distant

pink teeth. Inflorescence a simple, very dense, cylindric, arcuate-erect raceme ± 500 mm long; pedun-

cle with many sterile bracts; bracts broadly ovate-acute, 10-20 x 8-11 mm, 7-many-nerved. Flowers

red in bud, greenish white at flowering, cylindric-ventricose, 22-35 mm long; outer segments free

almost to base, inner segments free; pedicels 3-10 mm long. Anthers exserted 9-16 mm. Ovary 5-6

x 2-A mm, green; style exserted 10-16 mm. Fruit not seen. Flowering time August to September.

ALOACEAE: Aloe

1 15

98. Aloe speciosa Baker in Journal of the

Linnean Society of London, Botany 18: 178

(1880a); Baker: 323 (1896a); A.Berger: 299

(1908); Pole Evans: t. 606 (19361); Reynolds:

422 (1950); Jeppe: 43 (1969); Bornman &

D.S. Hardy: 231 (1972); Palmer & Pitman: 377

(1972); B.-E. van Wyk & G.F.Sm.: 66 (1996).

Type: Eastern Cape, near Fish River, MacOwan

1922 (K, holo. ! ; PRE, photo.!).

Description as for section. Figure 19.

Aloe speciosa occurs mainly in noorsveld,

but also in valley bushveld and fynbos, on very

stony ground in the Western and Eastern Cape.

Its range is mostly in the drier parts of the

region where rain occurs in all seasons, with a

summer maximum in the east. Map 69.

In this very distinctive species the rosette of

leaves is slightly oblique, a character not found

in any other southern African single-stemmed

Aloe. The leaves have very fine pink to red mar-

gins with the finest teeth of all arborescent

aloes, and the simple inflorescences with cylin-

dric, very dense, bicoloured racemes are other

very distinctive characters. A. rubroviolacea

(indigenous to Yemen) also has oblique leaf

rosettes and inflorescences with very dense

racemes, but the plant is shorter and the

racemes are unicoloured.

The Latin word speciosus means ‘showy’ or

'beautiful', and is an apt description of the

inflorescence of this aloe. Palmer & Pitman

(1972) record the following common names for

this species: slapoor, slaphoringaalwyn, spans-

aalwyn and spanareaalwyn (all Afrikaans).

Vouchers: Bayliss 6056 (PRE); Marloth

13125 (PRE); Muir 1750 (PRE); Reynolds 2619

(PRE); Thode A2773 (NH, PRE).

Hybrids:

1. A. speciosa xA. arborescens (no. 96). See

A. arborescens.

2. A. speciosa x A. africana (no. 109).

Voucher: Johnson 660 (PRE).

3. A. speciosa x A. ferox (no. 1 10) (= A. x

tomlinsonii Marloth). Vouchers: L. Bolus

NBG161 5/32 (NBG); Tomlinson in Marloth

13691 (PRE); Reynolds 1420 (BOL).

20. Section Anguialoe

Section Anguialoe Reynolds in Journal of South African Botany 6: 1 1 1 (1940b); Reynolds: 428

(1950). Type species: A. spicata L.f. (= A. sessiliflora Pole Evans).

Plants short-stemmed to arborescent; stems simple or branched. Leaves densely rosulate, nar-

rowly deltoid to ensiform, margins dentate. Inflorescence a simple cylindric, very dense raceme,

1-5 per rosette; peduncles with many sterile bracts. Flowers sessile or subsessile, spreading, cam-

panulate; segments free. Anthers exserted for ± half their total length. Style exserted for ± half its

total length.

Figure 1 9. — Section Principales. Aloe speciosa: 1 , median longitudinal section of flower; 2, bract; 3 & 4, flower buds;

5, open flower; 6, cross section of leaf; 7, portion of leaf margin; 8, habit. Taken from Pole Evans (19361).

ALOACEAE: Aloe

1 17

la Plants up to 2 m tall, may be almost stemless:

2a Leaves flat; racemes over 50 mm in diameter 99. A. vryheidensis

2b Leaves channelled; racemes less than 50 mm in diameter 100. A. spicata

lb Adult plants over 2 m tall; stems conspicuous, branched or unbranched:

3a Stem unbranched; leaves recurved; inflorescence up to 1.3 m tall 101. A. alooides

3b Stem branched above ground; leaves ascending to spreading; inflorescence 1.5 m tall

or more 102. A. castanea

This section is characterised by the inflorescences, which are simple and relatively long, with

narrowly cylindric racemes. The flowers are sessile or subsessile and campanulate with free seg-

ments, long-exserted anthers and styles, and copious nectar.

99. Aloe vryheidensis Groenew. in Tyd-

skrif vir Wetenskap en Kuns 15: 129 (1937c);

Reynolds: 111 (1940b); R.A.Dyer: t. 805 (1941);

Reynolds: 428 (1950); Jeppe: 107 (1969);

Bornman & D.S. Hardy: 233 (1972); B.-E. van

Wyk & G.F.Sm.: 70 (1996). Type: KwaZulu-

Natal, Heine near Vryheid, F.Z. van der Merxve

266 (PRE!).

A. dolomitica Groenew.: 178 (1938b): Reynolds: 111

(1940b); Reynolds: 434 (1950); Jeppe: 108 (1969);

Bornman & D.S. Hardy: 239 (1972); Palmer & Pitman: 379

(1972). Type: Mpumalanga, Strydpoort Mts, F.Z. van der

Merwe 235 (PRE!).

Plants almost stemless to arborescent, 1-2 m

tall; stems simple. Leaves 20-50, ascending to

arcuate-incurved, flat, 400-800 x 80-130 mm,

dark green to glaucous green. Inflorescences

2-3(-5) per rosette, 0.6-1. 5 m tall, over 50 mm

in diameter; bracts ovate-acute, 8-15 x 5-10

mm, 3-5-nerved. Flowers sessile, rose or brown-

ish honey-yellow to greenish yellow, 8-20 mm

long. Anthers exserted 6-15 mm. Ovary ± 5-6 x

3 mm, orange; style exserted 7-17 mm. Fruit not

seen. Flowering time July to August.

Aloe vryheidensis is found in the Northern

Province, Mpumalanga and KwaZulu-Natal,

where it usually occurs on alkaline soils derived

from shales or dolomite. The entire range of this

species falls within the summer-rainfall region,

but rainfall amounts and temperatures vary con-

siderably. Map 70.

In this species the peduncle is more or less

oblique, while the raceme is erect. There is thus

Map 70. — Aloe vryheidensis

a distinct angle at the base of the raceme. The

leaves are flat to D-shaped in section and the

flowers are pinkish brown. Plants may be stem-

less or caulescent. In A. spicata (no. 100), the

only species with which A. vryheidensis is like-

ly to be confused, the leaves are channelled, the

raceme is narrower and the flowers are greenish

yellow.

The specific epithet indicates the type local-

ity, while the synonym and common name indi-

cate the preferred substrate of this aloe; Palmer

& Pitman (1972) record the common name

dolomite aloe for this species.

Vouchers: Dyer 3501 (PRE); Hardy 40 (PRE);

Jacobsen 2939 (PRE); Reynolds 2000 (PRE.

SAM); Verdoorn 2522 (PRE).

118

ALOACEAE: Aloe

Figure 20. — Section Anguialoe. Aloe spicata: 1, transverse section of leaf; 2. median longitudinal section of flower

showing upward inclination of style from apex of ovary x 3; 3, habit, much reduced; 4, flower and attachment to raceme,

x 1 .5. Taken from Dyer (1931b).

ALOACEAE: Aloe

119

100. Aloe spicata L./.', Supplementum plan-

tarum: 205 (1782); Thunb.: 61 (1794); Willd.:

1 85 ( 1 799); Thunb.: 1 82 ( 1 800); Haw.: 76 ( 1 8 1 2)

pro parte; Salm-Dyck: 28 (1817); Haw.: 39

(1821) pro parte; Thunb.: 309 (1823); A. Berger:

304 (1908); N.E.Br.: 142 (1923); Reynolds: 425

(1950); Glen & D.S.Hardy: 99 (1995); B.-E. van

Wyk & G.F.Sm.: 86 (1996). Type: southern

Africa, no precise locality, Thunberg 8599 (UPS,

holo.!; BM!, PRE!, STE!, photo.).

A. sessiliflora Pole Evans: 708 (1917); Pole Evans: t. 180

(1925c); R. A. Dyer: t. 435 (1931b); Reynolds: 111 (1940b);

Reynolds: 431 (1950); Jeppe: 106 (1969); Bornman &

D.S.Hardy: 235 (1972); Palmer & Pitman: 379 (1972);

West; 80 (1974); Compton: 102 (1976). Type: Mpumalanga,

Barberton District, Thorncroft PRE43 (PRE!).

A. tauri L.C. Leach: 363 (1968); West: 79 (1974). Type:

Zimbabwe, Mt Igar, Leach & Bullock 13321 (SRGH. holo.!;

BM, G. K!, LISC, PRE!).

Plants almost stemless to arborescent, 1-2 m

tall; stems simple or branched. Leaves ± 30 per

rosette, spreading to slightly recurved, 500-700

x 50-95 mm, channelled, green to reddish.

Inflorescences 1-5 per rosette, 0.6-1. 2 m tall,

less than 50 mm in diameter; bracts ovate-acute,

10-11 x 5-7 mm, 3-5-nerved. Flowers sessile,

brownish red in bud, greenish yellow to almost

white at flowering, 7-15 mm long. Anthers

exserted 5-15 mm. Ovary ± 4. 0-5.0 x 2.5 mm,

orange; style exserted 3-15 mm. Fruit ±13x6

mm, almost black. Seeds ± 2.0 x 1 .25 x 0.7 mm,

black, without wings. Flowering time June to

August. Figure 20.

Aloe spicata occurs on a wide variety of soils

at high and low altitudes on the Northern Pro-

vince and Mpumalanga highveld and lowveld

and adjacent areas of southern Zimbabwe,

Swaziland and the Mozambique and KwaZulu-

Natal coastal plain. Temperatures are generally

high, with variable amounts of summer rain.

Map 71.

Differences between A. spicata and A. vry-

heidensis (no. 99) are discussed under that

species. This pair is unlikely to be confused with

any other aloe. The salient differences between

A. tauri and A. spicata mentioned in the first

Map 7 1 . — Aloe spicata

description of the former were dimensions and

ratios of dimensions in the inflorescence and of

the leaves. In almost all of these, there was at

least some overlap, the only exception being in

Leach’s measurements of the raceme length and

hence of the raceme:peduncle ratio. Reynolds’s

(1950: 431) and our measurements indicate that

here, too, there is overlap.

The specific epithet highlights the spicate

inflorescence.

Vouchers: Compton 27909 (NBG, PRE);

Hardy & Scott 1522 (PRE); Mogg 16636

(PRE); Reynolds 1985 (PRE, SAM); Ward 4186

(PRE).

Hybrids:

1 . A. spicata x A. greatheadii var. davyana

(no. 46b). See A. greatheadii var. davyana.

2. A. spicata x A. marlothii var. marlothii

(no. 104a). Voucher: Reynolds 1916 (PRE).

3. A. spicata x A. aculeata (no. 105).

Voucher: Bey 7 (SRGH).

101. Aloe alooides (Bolus) Druten in

Bothalia 6: 544 (1956); Jeppe: 109 (1969);

Bornman & D.S.Hardy: 243 (1972); Palmer &

Pitman: 380 (1972); B.-E. van Wyk & G.F.Sm.:

44 (1996). Type: Mpumalanga, near Mac-Mac,

120

ALOACEAE: Aloe

MacLea BOL3011 (BOL, holo.!; K!, SAM!;

PRE, photo.!).

Urginea alooides Bolus: 395 (1881). Notosceptmm

alooides (Bolus) Benth.: 775 (1883); Baker: 285 (1896b).

A. recurvifolia Groenew.: 39 (1935); Reynolds: t. 601

(1936k); Reynolds: 111 (1940b); Reynolds: 436 (1950).

Neotype: Mpumalanga, near Graskop, F.Z. van der Merwe

73 (PRE!, designated by Reynolds 1950).

Trees 2-4 m tall; stems usually simple, rare-

ly branched near base. Leaves many, recurved,

600-1300 x 70-180 mm, deeply channelled,

olive-green, sometimes slightly reddish. Inflores-

cence simple, 3-5 simultaneously, up to 1.3 m

tall; bracts ovate-acute, 5-8 x 3-5 mm, 3-5-

nerved. Flowers sessile, lemon-yellow, 8-10

mm long. Anthers exserted 3-7 mm. Ovary ± 3

x 3 mm, orange; style exserted 3-8 mm. Fruit ±

9x7 mm. Flowering time July to August.

Aloe alooides grows in shallow soil on

dolomite outcrops in a limited area of the Mpu-

malanga escarpment. It sometimes occurs in

association with Encephalartos humilis. The

summers in this area are warm and rainy, the

winters dry and cold. Map 72.

The flowers of this species are the smallest

in the entire genus, and plants are the slowest-

growing. Among the species of this section, this

species stands out because of its deeply chan-

nelled, sharply recurved leaves and very long,

narrow inflorescences.

Map 72. — Aloe alooides

The specific epithet highlights the confusion

sumounding the identity of this plant when it

was discovered. The type specimen is an inflo-

rescence with neither leaves nor notes on leaves

and habit, and so it was first placed in the genus

Urginea , a group of small, inconspicuous bul-

bous plants. The name first given to it means

‘the Urginea that looks like an Aloe\ The com-

bination Aloe alooides had to be used when it

was realised that this plant was, in fact, an Aloe ,

and so the present name means ‘the aloe that

looks like an aloe’.

Voucher: Reynolds 1459 (PRE).

102. Aloe castanea Schonland in Records

of the Albany Museum 2: 138 (1907); A. Berger:

330 (1908); Reynolds: 111 (1940b); Reynolds:

438 (1950); Jeppe: 109 (1969); Bornman &

D.S. Hardy: 245 (1972); Palmer & Pitman: 380

(1972); B.-E. van Wyk & G.F.Sm.: 76 (1996).

Type: Mpumalanga, Ohrigstad Valley, Burtt Daw

2856 (GRA!).

Trees 2-4 m tall; stems branched. Leaves

many per rosette, ascending to spreading,

500-1000 x 50-100 mm, channelled, glaucous.

Inflorescence simple, 1-5 per rosette, 1. 5-2.0 m

tall; bracts 8-14 x 5-8 mm, 3-5-nerved. Flowers

chestnut-brown, 15-18 mm long; pedicels up to

3 mm long. Anthers exserted 4-15 mm. Ovary

4-7 x 2-3 mm, deep orange; style exserted

6-15 mm. Fruit 1 1-15 x 7-8 mm, olive-brown.

Seeds ± 4.0 x 1.75 x 1.25 mm, ochre. Flowering

time July to August.

Aloe castanea occurs in hot, dry thorny wood-

land (mostly Acocks's (1988) Mixed Bushveld

and Sourish Mixed Bushveld) on the highveld

side of the Mpumalanga escarpment (Gauteng,

Mpumalanga and the Northern Province and

Swaziland) on a variety of soils. Map 73.

This is the only species of the section in

which the stems are often branched, and plants

may occasionally form much-branched trees.

The racemes are rarely rigidly erect as they are

in other species of this section, being usually

ALOACEAE: Aloe

121

The Latin word castaneus means ‘chestnut-

coloured’ and refers to the flowers of this species.

The seKone common names borolo and suwopa

are recorded for this species (Reynolds 1950).

The leaf ash prepared from this species is used as

a weevil-repellent preservative for stored grain in

Sekhukhuneland (Reynolds 1950).

Vouchers: Barnard & Mogg 1006 (PRE);

Dahlstrand 1866 (PRE); Henderson 1738

(NBG); Reynolds 2471 (PRE).

Hybrids:

1 . A. castanea x A. greatheadii var. davyana

(no. 46b). See A. greatheadii var. davyana.

2. A. castanea x A. crvptopoda (no. 77). See

oblique, bent (simply or with an S-bend) or ^ cryptopoda

twisted. The flowers are subsessile, with

pedicels up to 3 mm long; in other species in 3. A. castanea x A. aculeata (no. 105).

this section the flowers are completely sessile. Voucher: E.R. Harrison s.n. (PRE).

21. Section Ortholophae

Section Ortholophae ( Christian ) Glen & D.S. Hardy, stat. nov. Type species: A. secundiflora Engl.

Subsection Ortholophae Christian in Journal of South African Botany 6: 188 (1940b).

Plants stemless to arborescent, solitary with simple or branched stems, or suckering to form

small or large groups. Leaves rosulate, deltoid to lanceolate, arcuate-incurved to spreading, green

to glaucous, unspotted, margins dentate, surfaces sometimes with irregular prickles. Inflorescences

simple or branched, erect to horizontal, lax to dense, usually secund, rarely cylindric racemes;

peduncles usually without sterile bracts except those subtending branches, rarely few sterile bracts

present. Flowers cylindric-trigonous, cylindric, clavate or ventricose; outer segments shortly con-

nate, inner segments usually dorsally adnate to outer, sometimes completely free; pedicels short.

Anthers variously exserted. Style variously exserted.

Plants stemless; racemes lax to sublax (peduncle visible between flowers) ... 103. A. globuligemma

Plants caulescent; racemes dense (peduncle not visible between flowers) 104. A. marlothii

The secund racemes are a certain indicator of this section, except in some populations of A. marlothii

in KwaZulu-Natal, where the racemes may be cylindric. Species of this group are stemless and sucker-

ing to caulescent and solitary, with leaves with or without surface prickles. The racemes are lax to very

dense, and the inflorescence may be simple or with few to many branches. In the southern African

species of this section the anthers and styles are long-exserted. In Aloe, the secund flowers point

upwards, but in species of Kniphofia with secund flowers, the flowers point obliquely downwards.

122

ALOACEAE: Aloe

103. Aloe globuligemma Pole Evans in

Transactions of the Royal Society of South

Africa 5: 30 (1915): Pole Evans: t. 2 (1921c);

Christian: 188 (1940b); Reynolds: 443 (1950);

Reynolds: 223 (1966); Jeppe: 6 (1969);

Bomman & D.S.Hardy: 247 (1972); West: 74

(1974); B.-E. van Wyk & G.F.Sm.: 138 (1996).

Type: Hort. Pretoria. Pole Evans 20 (PRE!).

Plants stemless, 400-600 mm tall excluding

inflorescence, suckering and forming large

dense groups. Leaves ± 20 per rosette, erectly

spreading to slightly incurved, with recurved

apices, 400-600 x 55-90 mm, glaucous. In-

florescence of lax, secund racemes, with 8-18

horizontal to ascending branches, up to 1 m tall;

bracts ovate-acute to lanceolate-acute, 3-8 x

3-4 mm, 3-5-nerved. Flowers deep dull red in

bud, sulphur-yellow to ivory-coloured at flow-

ering, 18-26 mm long; outer segments connate

in basal third, inner segments free; pedicels 2-5

mm long. Anthers exserted 5-12 mm. Ovary > ±

6x2 mm; style exserted 5-14 mm. Fruit ± 25

x 13 mm. Flowering time July to August.

This species occurs on stony soil in hot, dry,

thorny bushveld in Botswana, the Northern Pro-

vince and Mpumalanga; also in southern

Zimbabwe. Map 74.

Aloe globuligemma is similar to A. guerrae

and A. procera (both indigenous to Angola), A.

Map 74. — Aloe globuligemma

ortholopha (indigenous to Zimbabwe) and A.

mawii (indigenous to Malawi and Mozam-

bique). In A. guerrae the flowers are somewhat

laxer than in A. globuligemma , the inflores-

cences are much taller and plants are solitary,

not forming great masses. In A. procera the

inflorescences are laxer and taller than in A.

globuligemma, and the flowers do not change

colour as they age. Plants of A. ortholopha are

solitary, with very dense, unicoloured racemes

in inflorescences which are only once or twice

branched, and flowers on much longer pedicels

than those of A. globuligemma. A. mawii is

shortly ( 1-2 m) caulescent and has simple, very

dense racemes in which the bracts are very

small and obscurely veined. In A. globuligem-

ma, unlike all the other members of this section,

the flowers are clavate.

The specific epithet is composed of two

Latin words, globulus a ‘small ball' or ‘cluster',

and gemma a ‘bud' or ‘jewel’, an allusion to the

round buds. The seKone common name for this

species is lekopane (Reynolds 1950). In Sekhu-

khuneland this species is considered to be an aid

to long-term weather forecasting. When the ter-

minal raceme points eastwards, this indicates

that the following rainy season will be poor,

while a westward-pointing terminal raceme indi-

cates good rains to come (Reynolds 1950).

Plants in cultivation both in Pretoria and

Johannesburg generally had terminal racemes

pointing close to due north in both good and

poor rain years. The inflorescences of cultivat-

ed plants of this species in the Pretoria National

Botanical Garden are avidly eaten by rock

hyraxes (dassies. Procavia capensis). West (1974:

75) reports that the leaves contain a water-solu-

ble toxic principle which has been implicated in

some cases of culpable homicide.

Vouchers: Eller y 238 (PRE); Leach 11127

(MO. PRE. SRGH); Pole Evans 221 (BM,

PRE); Reynolds 5475 (BOL, PRE, SAM); Van

Vuuren 1538 (PRE).

Hybrid:

A. globuligemma x A. aculeata (no. 105).

Voucher: Leach 9251 (SRGH).

ALOACEAE: Aloe

123

104. Aloe marlothii A. Berger in Botan-

ische Jahrbiicher 38: 87 (1905b); A. Berger: 312

(1908); J.M.Wood: t. 579 (1912); N.E.Br.: t.

8484 (1913); Marloth: 102b (1915); Sim: 151

(1919); Pole Evans: t. 171 ( 1925d); Reynolds: 7

(1935); Reynolds: 479 (1950); Jeppe: 36

(1969); Bornman & D.S.Hardy: 271 (1972);

Palmer & Pitman: 390 (1972); Compton: 100

(1976); B.-E. van Wyk & G.F.Sm.: 58 (1996).

Type: Botswana, near Lobatse, Marloth 3325

(B, holo.; PRE!, BOL! [= BOL24327]).

A. supralaevis Haw. var. hanburyi Baker: 327 (1896a).

Type: Hort. La Mortola, Hanbury s.n. (K!).

A. ferox Mill. var. xanthostachys A. Berger: 310 (1908).

Type: KwaZulu-Natal, Ladysmith, Marloth 4157 (B).

A. marlothii A. Berger var. bicolor Reynolds: 34 (1936f);

Reynolds: 482 (1950). Type: Mpumalanga, Barberton,

Reynolds 1440 (PRE, holo.!; BOL!).

A. spectabilis Reynolds: 129 (1937e); Reynolds: 477

(1950); Jeppe: 38 (1969); Bornman & D.S.Hardy: 269

(1972); Palmer & Pitman: 389 (1972). Type: KwaZulu-

Natal. Tugela Ferry, Reynolds 2033 (PRE, holo.!; BOL!).

Trees 2 — 4(— 10) m tall; stems simple. Leaves

40-50, arcuate-incurved to spreading or slight-

ly recurved with age, 750-1500 x 75-250 mm,

channelled to D-shaped in section, glaucous,

usually with irregular prickles on both surfaces,

these normally fewer on upper surface.

Inflorescence of spreading to rarely erect, usu-

ally secund, rarely cylindric racemes, with up to

30 branches; bracts ovate-acute, 4-9 x 2-5 mm,

3-5-nerved. Flowers yellow to red in bud, yel-

low to orange at flowering, cylindric to ventri-

cose, 22-35 mm long; outer segments connate

for one third to half their length, inner segments

adnate to outer in basal third; pedicles 3-5 mm

long. Anthers exserted 8-20 mm. Ovary 5. 0-9.0

x 1. 5-5.0 mm, green; style exserted 6-20 mm.

Fruit 19-21 x 10-12 mm, grey.

Aloe marlothii characteristically grows on

rocky hills on the highveld of the Northern

Province, Mpumalanga and Gauteng, but may

occur in a wide variety of habitats elsewhere.

The vegetation and climate vary considerably

across its range. Records of this species from

Zimbabwe and Malawi (e.g. Jeppe 1969: 36)

are probably based on misidentifications of A.

excelsa (no. 115), which appears similar when

not in Power or fruit.

This species and A. mawii are the only

arborescent members of this section. In A. mar-

lothii the inflorescence is a much-branched pan-

icle with up to 30 racemes of orange to yellow

flowers subtended by bracts 4—9 mm long. In A.

mawii the inflorescence is a simple raceme of

red to orange flowers subtended by minute

bracts no more than I mm long. The leaves of

A. excelsa are slightly shorter, narrower and

more spreading than those of A. marlothii , tend

to be slightly more purplish in colour when

affected by cold, and have somewhat inrolled

margins.

Two subspecies are recognised:

Stems solitary, taller than 2 m; leaves

with many surface prickles

104a. subsp. marlothii

Stems in clumps, shorter than 2 m; leaves

with few surface prickles

104b. subsp. orientalis

104a. subsp. marlothii.

Description as for species. Flowering time

June to August.

Found in Botswana, the Northern Province,

North-West, Gauteng, Mpumalanga, Swaziland

and KwaZulu-Natal. Map 75.

The specific epithet honours the discoverer,

H.W.R. Marloth ( 1855-1931), pharmacist, ana-

lytical chemist and botanist. Marloth's collec-

tions and publications are among the most

important of his period for the study of southern

African botany. Many common names are re-

corded for this species, including the following:

mountain aloe, bergaalwyn (Afrikaans), inhla-

ba (siSwati), bindamutsho and khopha (Tshi-

venda), umhlaba, inhlaba, ikliala and inhlabane

(Zulu) and ngopa nara (seKone) (Reynolds

1950; Palmer & Pitman 1972).

124

ALOACEAE: Aloe

Figure 21. — Section Ortholophae. Aloe marlothii subsp. orientalis: 1, leaf apex, x 0.8; 2, one raceme, x 0.8; 3, fruit,

x 0.8. Taken from Glen & Hardy (1987c).

ALOACEAE: Aloe

125

Map 75. — 0 Aloe marlothii subsp. marlothii

★ A. marlothii subsp. orientalis

Aloe marlothii subsp. marlothii is eaten by

eland in the Pietersburg Game Reserve (G.

Bredenkamp pers. comm.). Small plants are

browsed as they are found, but the animals push

over large individuals to reach the crowns. The

baKgatla use the leaf boiled in water with sugar

as a tapeworm remedy (Watt & Breyer-

Brandwijk 1963). The same authors report that

this species contains the same carcinogens as

cigarette smoke. The leaves are widely used to

scrape hides and thin them for use as clothing.

Ash from burned dry leaves is used to adulter-

ate snuff. The Zulu use a decoction of green

leaves and roots against roundworm, and a

decoction of the shoots for digestive troubles.

The leaf sap is rubbed on a mother’s breasts to

hasten weaning.

Vouchers: Acocks 10526 (NH, PRE); Bui-

tendag 567 (NBG, PRE); H. Hall 927 (MO);

Moll 3292 (PRE); Story 5641 (PRE).

Hybrids;

1. A. marlothii subsp. marlothii x A. great-

headii var. greatheadii (no. 46a). See A. great-

headii var. greatheadii.

2. A. marlothii subsp. marlothii x A. cryp-

topoda (no. 77). See A. cryptopoda.

3. A. marlothii subsp. marlothii x A.

arhorescens (no. 96). See A. arborescens.

4. A. marlothii subsp. marlothii x A. spicata

(no. 100). See A. spicata.

5. A. marlothii subsp. marlothii x A. acidea-

ta (no. 105). Voucher: Reynolds 1366 (PRE).

6. A. marlothii subsp. marlothii x A. ferox

(no. 110). Vouchers: Moll 3287 A-D (NU).

7. A. marlothii subsp. marlothii x A. angeli-

ca (no. 111). Voucher: Reynolds 1382 (BOL,

PRE).

8. A. marlothii subsp. marlothii x A.

rupestris (no. 112). Voucher: Henderson 1752

(NBG).

104b. subsp. orientalis Glen & D.S. Hardy

in The Flowering Plants of Africa 49: t. 1943

(1987c). Type: KwaZulu-Natal, Mtunzini District,

Plowes 2260 (PRE, holo.!; LISC!, SRGH!).

Plants caulescent, 1.0-1.75 m tall, suckering

to form small groups. Leaves glaucous to blue-

green, with no to few surface prickles. Flowers

somewhat shorter than in subsp. marlothii.

Anthers exserted 8-12 mm. Style exserted 8-12

mm. Flowering time July to August. Other char-

acters as in subsp. marlothii. Figure 21.

Found in Swaziland and KwaZulu-Natal;

also in Mozambique. The first two vouchers

cited are from Mozambique; the type is among

the few known gatherings from southern Africa.

Map 75.

This subspecies suckers when growing in

sandy soil, while subsp. marlothii does not form

clumps. Unlike subsp. marlothii, this sub-

species can grow on beach sand, and generally

favours sandier soils at lower altitude than the

typical subspecies. A. marlothii subsp. oriental-

is is characterised by no or few surface prickles

on the leaves, shorter stems than the typical

subspecies and racemes which are usually

oblique rather than usually horizontal.

The subspecific epithet (Latin orientalis =

eastern) indicates that the natural range of

126

ALOACEAE: Aloe

this subspecies lies to the east of the range of

the typical one. Anderson & Pooley (1977)

record that leaves of A. marlothii are rarely

eaten by nyala ( Tragelaphus angasi) in the

Ndumu Game Reserve. They probably refer

to the subsp. orientalis, which seems to be

fairly common in that reserve (HFG, sight

record).

Vouchers: Jansen & De Koning 7311 (MO);

Leach 11129 (PRE); Pooley 643 (NH); C.J.

Ward 2645 (NH. PRE); M.C. Ward 1049 (PRE).

22. Section Pachythamnos

Section Pachythamnos Glen & D.S. Hardy, sect. nov. Type species: A. petricola Pole Evans.

Plantae acaulescentes; inflorescentia simplice vel parce ramosa; racemis cylindricis vel sub-

cylindricis; bracteis angustis; floribus subsessilibus.

Plants stemless or short-stemmed, not suckering. Leaves rosulate, deltoid to lanceolate, spreading

to arcuate-incurved, green to glaucous, unspotted, margins dentate. Inflorescence simple or with few

branches; peduncles with sterile bracts; racemes erect to decurved, conical to cylindric, dense;

pedicels short. Flowers cylindric-trigonous to ventricose, straight or curved; outer segments connate

in lower half, inner segments free or adnate to outer. Anthers long-exserted. Style long-exserted.

la Perianth mouth upturned:

2a Pedicels longer than 4 mm; plants from KwaZulu-Natal 108. A. gerstneri

2b Pedicels shorter than 4 mm; plants from Mpumalanga, Swaziland or Northern Province

106 . A. petricola

lb Perianth mouth straight or downtumed:

3a Leaves with random surface prickles throughout 105. A. aculeata

3b Leaves with no or few prickles in median line 107. A. reitzii

At first sight some species of this section may appear to belong to section 13, Latebracteatae. In

this section the inflorescences are simple to much more sparsely branched than in that section and

the bracts are shorter and significantly narrower than in that section. Flowers in this section are sub-

sessile to shortly pedicellate, not long-pedicellate, and have long-exserted anthers and styles. No

member of section Latebracteatae has leaves with prickles resembling those of A. aculeata.

The name of this section is formed from the Greek words pachys meaning ‘thick', and thamnos

for ‘shrub’, by analogy with section 23, Pachydendron. This section differs from that chiefly in

being stemless or short-stemmed rather than tree-like.

105. Aloe aculeata Pole Evans in Trans-

actions of the Royal Society of South Africa 5:

34 (1915); Pole Evans: t. 371 (1930); Reynolds:

447 (1950); Reynolds: 241 (1966); Jeppe: 1

(1969); Bomman & D.S. Hardy: 249 (1972);

West: 77 (1974); B.-E. van Wyk & G.F.Sm.:

122 (1996). Lectotype: Northern Province, near

Pietersburg, Pole Evans PRE55 (PRE!. desig-

nated by Reynolds 1966).

Plants stemless, 300-600 mm tall excluding

inflorescence, solitary. Leaves ± 30, 250-600 x

50-120 mm, shallowly channelled, grass-green

to glaucous, upper surface with few prickles,

lower surface with many prickles, these on both

surfaces scattered, dark brown, arising from

white tubercles. Inflorescence of erect, cylin-

dric, very dense racemes, 2^1-branched, ± 1 m

tall; bracts ovate-acuminate, 6-10 x 4—7 mm,

ALOACEAE: Aloe

127

many-nerved. Flowers reddish orange to yellow