Home | > | List of families | > | Asphodelaceae | > | Aloe | > | rhodesiana |
Synonyms: |
Aloe eylesii Christian |
Common names: | Zimbabwe grass aloe (English) |
Frequency: | locally frequent |
Status: | Native |
Description: |
Perennial herb, solitary, or suckering to produce a cluster of up to 4 stems. Leaves mostly in a basal rosette, erect, fleshy but grass-like, linear, 30–50 cm long, dull green, with a few whitish spots toward the base of the under surface; margin with firm white teeth near the base. Inflorescences 1–3 from each rosette, simple, erect up to c. 50 cm high, rarely taller when protected from fire. Raceme cylindric, 15–20 cm long and 8 cm, more or less laxly flowered; pedicels c. 3 cm long, elongating to 5 cm in fruit. Perianth salmon-pink, greenish-tipped, c. 35 mm long and 6 mm in diameter across the ovary; outer segments free to the base with tips slightly spreading. This species often flowers early after fire, when the leaves and stem are burnt. |
Type location: |
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Notes: | |
Derivation of specific name: | rhodesiana: of Rhodesia (Zimbabwe, or sometimes Zambia) |
Habitat: | In montane grassland. |
Altitude range: (metres) | 1200 - 2100 m |
Flowering time: | Oct - Feb |
Worldwide distribution: | Only known from the border mountains of Zimbabwe and Mozambique and Mt Gorongosa. |
National distribution: | MS |
Growth form(s): | |
Endemic status: | |
Red data list status: | |
Insects associated with this species: | |
Spot characters: | Display spot characters for this species |
Images last updated: | Wednesday 2 March 2011 |
Literature: |
Carter, S. (2001). Aloaceae Flora Zambesiaca 12(3) Pages 62 - 64. Chapano, C. & Mamuto, M. (2003). Plants of the Chimanimani District National Herbarium and Botanic Garden, Zimbabwe Page 5. Da Silva, M.C., Izidine, S. & Amude, A.B. (2004). A preliminary checklist of the vascular plants of Mozambique. Southern African Botanical Diversity Network Report No. 30 Sabonet, Pretoria Page 121. As Aloe rhodesiaca Golding, J.S. (ed.) (2002). Zimbabwe Plant Red Data List. Southern African Plant Red Data Lists. SABONET 14 Page 161. Kimberley, M.J. (2003). Miniature Aloes in Zimbabwe Excelsa 20 Pages 58 - 59. (Includes a picture). Mapaura, A. & Timberlake, J. (eds) (2004). A checklist of Zimbabwean vascular plants Southern African Botanical Diversity Network Report No. 33 Sabonet, Pretoria and Harare Page 84. West, O. (1974). A Field Guide to the Aloes of Rhodesia. Longman, Salisbury Pages 43 - 44. (Includes a picture). Wursten, B., Timberlake, J. & Darbyshire, I. (2017). The Chimanimani Mountains: an updated checklist. Kirkia 19(1) Page 81. |
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