Home | > | List of families | > | Asphodelaceae | > | Aloe | > | lutescens |
Synonyms: |
Aloe cryptopoda sensu Barnes & Turton |
Common names: | Malapati aloe (English) |
Frequency: | Local |
Status: | Native |
Description: |
Perennial herb, sometimes with a short stem, suckering with decumbent branching stems to form dense groups. Leaves in a compact rosette, spreading-erct, up to 75 cm long, mid-green, slightly reddening to becoming yellowish in dry conditions, sap yellow. Inflorescences 1-4, 1-1.5 m high; peduncle with 1-2 erect branches. Racemes narrowly cylindric-acuminate, 30-40 cm long, densely may-flowered. Flowers bright orange-scarlet in bud, green-tipped, pale yellow when fully open, 27-33mm long; stamens and stigma slightly exserted. Capsule ovoid, c. 22 mm long, dark yellowish-brown. |
Notes: | Closely related to Aloe cryptopoda but differing in the suckering habit, paler leaves, more densely-flowered racemes and flowers yellow when open. |
Derivation of specific name: | lutescens: (Latin) becoming yellow; referring to the gradual change from scarlet buds to yellow open flowers. |
Habitat: | A species of hot, dry areas of deciduous scrub or light woodland, steep sandy river banks and rocky outcrops. It often grows on grassless, bare ground where it is protected from fire. |
Altitude range: (metres) | 200 - 1060 m |
Flowering time: | Jun - Jul |
Worldwide distribution: | Southwestern Mozambique, Southeastern Zimbabwe, Southeastern Botswana and Limpopo South Africa. |
Zimbabwe distribution: | S |
Growth form(s): | |
Endemic status: | |
Red data list status: | Vulnerable |
Insects associated with this species: | |
Spot characters: | Display spot characters for this species |
Images last updated: | Tuesday 25 July 2017 |
Literature: |
Carter, S. (2001). Aloaceae Flora Zambesiaca 12(3) Page 96. 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 583. (Includes a picture). Golding, J.S. (ed.) (2002). Zimbabwe Plant Red Data List. Southern African Plant Red Data Lists. SABONET 14 Page 161. 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. Setshogo, M.P. (2005). Preliminary checklist of the plants of Botswana. Sabonet Report no. 37. Sabonet, Pretoria and Gaborone Page 116. West, O. (1974). A Field Guide to the Aloes of Rhodesia. Longman, Salisbury Pages 74 - 76. (Includes a picture). |
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