Aloe ballii Reynolds
var. ballii

Images: None on this site.

Detailed records: Display species records QDS maps by: Google Maps Point records by Google Maps

Species details: Click on each item to see an explanation of that item (Note: opens a new window)

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(s):
Endemic status: Endemic
Red data list status: Vulnerable
Insects associated with this species:
Spot characters: Display spot characters for this species
Images last updated: Friday 30 September 2005
Literature:

Carter, S. (2001). Aloaceae Flora Zambesiaca 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).

Chapano, C. & Mamuto, M. (2003). Plants of the Chimanimani District National Herbarium and Botanic Garden, Zimbabwe Page 4.

Golding, J.S. (ed.) (2002). Zimbabwe Plant Red Data List. Southern African Plant Red Data Lists. SABONET 14 Page 161.

Kimberley, M.J. (1973). Seven Rhodesian Aloes Excelsa 3 Pages 3 - 4.

Kimberley, M.J. (2003). Miniature Aloes in Zimbabwe Excelsa 20 Pages 53 - 54.

Mapaura, A. (2002). Endemic Plant Species of Zimbabwe. Kirkia 18(1) Page 125.

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.

Plowes, D.C.H. (1972). Aloes in Manicaland Excelsa 2 Page 32. (Includes a picture).

Timberlake, J., Darbyshire, I., Wursten, B., Hadj-Hammou, J., Ballings, P., Mapaura, A., Matimele, H., Banze, A., Chipanga, H., Muassinar, D., Massunde, J., Chelene, I., Osborne, J., Shah, T. (2016). Chimanimani Mountains: Botany and Conservation. Report produced under CEPF Grant 63512. Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew, London. Page 50.

West, O. (1974). A Field Guide to the Aloes of Rhodesia. Longman, Salisbury Pages 49 - 50. as Aloe ballii (Includes a picture).


Other sources of information about Aloe ballii var. ballii:

External websites:

African Plants: A Photo Guide (Senckenberg): Aloe ballii
African Plant Database: Aloe ballii
BHL (Biodiversity Heritage Library): Aloe ballii
EOL (Encyclopedia of Life): Aloe ballii
GBIF (Global Biodiversity Information Facility): Aloe ballii
Google: Web - Images - Scholar
iNaturalist: Aloe ballii
IPNI (International Plant Names Index): Aloe ballii
JSTOR Plant Science: Aloe ballii
Mansfeld World Database of Agricultural and Horticultural Crops: Aloe ballii
Plants of the World Online: Aloe ballii
Tropicos: Aloe ballii
Wikipedia: Aloe ballii


Copyright: Mark Hyde, Bart Wursten, Petra Ballings and Meg Coates Palgrave, 2002-24

Hyde, M.A., Wursten, B.T., Ballings, P. & Coates Palgrave, M. (2024). Flora of Zimbabwe: Species information: Aloe ballii var. ballii.
https://www.zimbabweflora.co.zw/speciesdata/species.php?species_id=113770, retrieved 19 March 2024

Site software last modified: 26 March 2018 2:01pm (GMT +2)
Terms of use