Home | > | List of families | > | Asphodelaceae | > | Aloe | > | plowesii |
Synonyms: | |
Common names: | Plowes' grass aloe (English) |
Frequency: | Local |
Status: | Native |
Description: |
Small perennial, solitary or suckering to form clusters of 2-3 very short stems. Leaves rosulate, grass-like, linear, 20-30 cm, rather fleshy, dull green, white-spotted in the lower half; margin with minute white teeth. Inflorescence simple, erect, up to 30-45 cm tall. Raceme laxly flowered, cylindric to subcapitate, 5-10 cm long; bracts papery, ovate-acuminate, up to 10 × 5 mm. Flowers 30-35 mm long, cylindric, orange-scarlet, green-tipped. |
Notes: | This species is very similar to Aloe wildii and occurs in the same area and habitat. The main differences are the rosulate leaves, slightly larger floral bracts and a slightly more compact inflorescence. There is some debate on the taxonomy of this plant. It may be a form of A. wildii or a natural hybrid with A. wildii as one of the parents. |
Derivation of specific name: | plowesii: named after Darrel Plowes (1925 -)from Zimbabwe, avid naturalist, plant collector and expert on orchids and stapeliads. |
Habitat: | Montane grassland among rocks and boulders, where it is subjected to seasonal burning. |
Altitude range: (metres) | 1370 - 1770 m |
Flowering time: | Jul - Feb |
Worldwide distribution: | Chimanimani Mountains in Mozambique and Zimbabwe |
Zimbabwe distribution: | E |
Growth form(s): | |
Endemic status: | Near Endemic |
Red data list status: | Vulnerable |
Insects associated with this species: | |
Spot characters: | Display spot characters for this species |
Literature: |
Carter, S. (2001). Aloaceae Flora Zambesiaca 12(3) Page 60. Chapano, C. & Mamuto, M. (2003). Plants of the Chimanimani District National Herbarium and Botanic Garden, Zimbabwe Page 5. Darbyshire, I., Timberlake, J., Osborne, J., Rokni, S., Matimele, H., Langa. C., Datizua, C., de Sousa, C., Alves, T., Massingue, A., Hadj-Hammou, J., Dhanda, S., Shah, T., Wursten, B. (2019). The endemic plants of Mozambique: diversity and conservation status Phytotaxa 136 Page 76. 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 Page 58. (Includes a picture). Mapaura, A. (2002). Endemic Plant Species of Zimbabwe. Kirkia 18(1) Page 127. 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 41 - 42. (Includes a picture). Wild, H. (1964). The endemic species of the Chimanimani Mountains and their significance Kirkia 4 Page 135. Wursten, B., Timberlake, J. & Darbyshire, I. (2017). The Chimanimani Mountains: an updated checklist. Kirkia 19(1) Page 81. |
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