Aloe rhodesiana
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Photo: Bart Wursten
Road before Bunga Forest, Vumba
Photo: Bart Wursten
Road before Bunga Forest, Vumba
Photo: Bart Wursten
Chinyakwaremba, Vumba
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| 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: | It is listed as Vulnerable, due to habitat destruction for commercial forestry or degradation from invasive species (pine, gum and wattle trees). |
| 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. |
| FZ divisions: | E |
| 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 8 June 2021 |
| 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. |
Other sources of information about Aloe rhodesiana:
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Flora of Mozambique: Aloe rhodesianaExternal websites:
African Plants: A Photo Guide (Senckenberg): Aloe rhodesianaAfrican Plant Database: Aloe rhodesiana
BHL (Biodiversity Heritage Library): Aloe rhodesiana
EOL (Encyclopedia of Life): Aloe rhodesiana
GBIF (Global Biodiversity Information Facility): Aloe rhodesiana
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iNaturalist: Aloe rhodesiana
IPNI (International Plant Names Index): Aloe rhodesiana
JSTOR Plant Science: Aloe rhodesiana
Mansfeld World Database of Agricultural and Horticultural Crops: Aloe rhodesiana
Plants of the World Online: Aloe rhodesiana
Tropicos: Aloe rhodesiana
Wikipedia: Aloe rhodesiana