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,