Aloe khamiesensis subsp. hantamensis Klopper, 2023

Klopper, Ronell R., Grace, Olwen M., Klopper, Arrie W., Smith, Gideon F. & Van, Abraham E., 2023, A taxonomic revision of Aloe sect. Purpurascentes (Asphodelaceae subfam. Alooideae), Phytotaxa 628 (1), pp. 1921-1935 : 1921-1935

3b. Aloe khamiesensis subsp. hantamensis Klopper subsp. nov. ( Fig. 12 )

Diagnosis:— Aloe khamiesensis subsp. hantamensis is easily distinguished from the other two subspecies of A. khamiesensis by its yellowish green leaves (not dull green to reddish brown) with 3–5 mm long marginal teeth (not 1–3 mm). Inflorescences are 3- or 4-branched (not up to 8-branched). It flowers in April–June (not March–April or June–July).

Type:— SOUTH AFRICA, Northern Cape: Calvinia Division, Bokkeveld Mountains , on top of the hills between Meulsteinvlei and Zwart Doorn River, 15 May 1926, E. B . Watermeyer in H. W. R . Marloth 6829 (holotype PRE!)

Description:— Usually solitary, arborescent plant, sometimes forming groups. Stem usually single with only one rosette, sometimes branched from base, erect, up to 1 m high, with persistent dried leaves. Leaves densely rosulate, erectly spreading to sometimes slightly incurved, light yellowish green, usually with few white spots, more numerous on juvenile plants, very slightly and obscurely lineate, lanceolate-attenuate, ± 40 cm long, ± 8 cm wide at base; margin with pungent, deltoid, reddish brown teeth, 3–5 mm long, 8–18 mm apart; exudate bright yellow, drying dark bright yellow. Inflorescence single or often 2 simultaneously, ± 1 m high, erect, 3- or 4-branched from below middle, branches ascending. Peduncle 2.4–3.0 cm wide and plano-convex below, terete above, green; with several sterile bracts below racemes, ovate-acute, (30–) 38–40 mm long, (27–) 36–37 mm wide at base, pale brown, thin, scarious, many-nerved. Racemes long-conical, acuminate, ± 35 cm long, ± 9 cm wide, erect, rather dense; buds erect to spreading, flowers pendulous when open. Floral bracts ovate-acute, sub-amplexicaul, 10–13 mm long, 4–5 mm wide, brown, thin, scarious, 3-nerved. Pedicels 19–22 mm long, yellowish green. Flowers: perianth red in bud, orangey yellow to yellow when mature, with greenish tips, 21–33 mm long, 6–7 mm across ovary, not narrowed above ovary, slightly widening to ± 8 mm towards middle, slightly narrowing to 5–6 mm towards mouth, cylindric-trigonous; outer segments free to base, tips slightly spreading; stamens with yellow filiform flattened filaments, exserted 5–6 mm; ovary 5 mm long, 2 mm diameter, green; style yellow, exserted to ± 7 mm.

Diagnostic characters:— Aloe khamiesensis subsp. hantamensis is easily distinguished by its tall, erect stem and branched inflorescence. Leaves are yellowish green and have a few white spots in adult plants (usually more in juvenile plants), with reddish brown marginal teeth 3–5 mm long. Inflorescences are 3- or 4-branched with orange-red buds and yellow flowers. Flowers are 21–33 mm long. Leaf exudate does not dry purple (dries dark bright yellow).

Distribution:— Only known from around Nieuwoudtville and between Calvinia and Loeriesfontein, Northern Cape, South Africa. Endemic to the Hantam-Roggeveld Centre of Endemism ( Van Wyk & Smith 2001).

Habitat:— Kloofs and rocky slopes in Fynbos and Renosterveld. Endemic to the Fynbos Biome.

Elevation:— 600–1 000 m

Flowering time:— April–June

Etymology:— Refers to its occurrence in the Hantam region of South Africa.

General notes:— This taxon represents the isolated populations of Aloe khamiesensis from near Loeriesfontein and Calvinia reported on by Van Wyk & Smith (1996, 2014).

Additional specimens examined (paratypes):— SOUTH AFRICA. Northern Cape: Calvinia Div., Bokkeveld Mountains , between Meulsteinvlei and Zwart Doorn River , 15 May 1926, E.B. Watermeyer in H.W.R. Marloth 6829 (holotype PREm); September 1926, E.B. Watermeyer in H.W.R. Marloth 12937 ( PRE). N of Nieuwoudtville, 16 June 1938, T.M. Salter 7330 ( BOL). Nieuwoudtville, Hantam National Botanical Garden , Maayerskloof , 4 May 2015, E. Marinus EMHNBG104 ( PRE). Hantam mountains, Tierhoek nek, 29 July 1948, D. K. Davis 64480 ( SAM). Calvinia-Loeriesfontein road, near Beeswater , 11 July 2010, R. R. Klopper & A. W. Klopper 342 (KMGgmc, PREgmc) & 343 (NBGgmc, PREgmc) .

Figures

FIGURE 12. Aloe khamiesensis subsp. hantamensis. A. Known distribution (red shading). B. Shortly caulescent plant with greenish yellow leaves, as well as bicoloured inflorescences (with red buds and yellow open flowers) and developing fruit. C. Rosette of young plant with green leaves and numerous white spots. Photographs: Arrie W. Klopper (Hantam region, Northern Cape, South Africa, July 2010)