| Home | > | List of families | > | Aloaceae | > | Aloe | > | ballii |
| Synonyms: | |
| Common names: | Ball's cliff aloe (English) |
| Frequency: | Very local and rare |
| Status: | Native |
| Description: |
Succulent perennial herb, suckering to forms small dense clusters. Stems elongated, becoming pendent and spirally twisted. Leaves on the apical part of the stems, grass-like, linear, up to 30 cm long, light green with whitish lines and spots, most densely on the lower surface near the base; margin with minute teeth 2-5 mm apart in the lower half. Inflorescence unbranched, up to 65 cm long, oblique or pendulous with raceme 12-18 cm long, more or less upturned, laxly flowered. Bracts c. 3 × 2 mm, ovate-acute, whitish, papery. Pedicels slender, 10-20 mm long. Flowers orange-scarlet, 12-16 mm long and c. 4 mm wide, cylindric, opening slightly towards the mouth. Capsule ovoid, up to c. 12 × 7 mm. |
| Notes: | - This subspecies is found only on quartzite rock around the Haroni River gorge at the southern end of the Chimanimani Mountains. The habitat is fairly inaccessible and stable but there are threats from horticultural collectors. - See var. makurupiniensis for comparison. |
| Derivation of specific name: | ballii: after John S. Ball who collected the type specimen |
| Habitat: | Among grasses on steep slopes and cliffs on quartzite rock. |
| Altitude range: (metres) | 380 m (approx) |
| Flowering time: | Most times of the year |
| Worldwide distribution: | Confined to Zimbabwe: only found around the Haroni River gorge at the southern end of the Chimanimani Mountains. |
| Zimbabwe distribution: | E |
| Growth form: | P |
| Endemic status: | Endemic |
| Red data list status: | Vulnerable |
| Insects (whose larvae eat this species): | |
| Spot characters: | Display spot characters for this species |
| Content last updated: | Friday 30 September 2005 |
| Literature: |
Carter, S. (2001). Aloaceae FZ 12(3) Pages 57 - 58. Carter, S., Lavranos, J.J., Newton, L.E. & Walker, C.C. (2011). Aloes, The Definitive Guide Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew ISBN 978 1 84246439 7 Page 130. (Includes a picture). Golding, J.S. (ed.) (2002). Southern African Plant Red Data Lists. Southern African Botanical Diversity Network Report No. 14. SABONET. Pretoria. Page 161. Kimberley, M.J. (1973). Seven Rhodesian Aloes Excelsa 3 Pages 3 - 4. 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. Mapaura, A. (2002). Endemic Plant Species of Zimbabwe. Kirkia 18(1) Page 125. Plowes, D.C.H. (1972). Aloes in Manicaland Excelsa 2 Page 32. (Includes a picture). West, O. (1974). A Field Guide to the Aloes of Rhodesia. Longman, Salisbury Pages 49 - 50. (Includes a picture). |
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