Aloe framesii subsp. maraisii 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

1c. Aloe framesii subsp. maraisii Klopper subsp. nov. ( Fig. 9 )

Diagnosis:— Aloe framesii subsp. maraisii is distinguished from other subspecies of A. framesii by its short procumbent stem (not semi-erect) and rosettes that form dense groups (not solitary or in small groups). Inflorescences in this subspecies are usually simple or 2-branched (as opposed to usually 2-branched or sometimes up to 3-branched). Racemes are 23–30 cm long (not up to 40 cm). Pedicels are 20–30 mm long (not 16–22 mm). Flowers are 40–45 mm long (not 25–35 mm). Although leaves usually have copious white spots on both surfaces, it can sometimes have only a few spots as in the other subspecies, or can even be without spots, but are never lineate.

Type:— SOUTH AFRICA. Western Cape: Stompneus Bay, in St Helena Bay , 28 May 1952, A. Hertzog NBG 390 /52 (holotype NBG! [2 sheets])

Description:— Acaulescent plants or with short stem procumbent, freely branching from base to form dense groups; with persistent dried leaves. Leaves densely rosulate, erectly spreading, bluish green, sometimes without spots or with only a few spots, but usually copiously white-spotted on both surfaces, lanceolate-attenuate, up to 35 cm long, 6–7 cm wide at base; margin with pungent, deltoid, reddish brown teeth, 2–4 mm long, 4–11 mm apart; exudate honey-coloured, sometimes drying with slight purple tinge. Inflorescence usually single, up to 0.85 m high, erect, simple or 2- branched from low down, branches ascending. Peduncle ± 1.1–2.0 cm wide and plano-convex below, terete upwards, reddish green; with several sterile bracts when simple, ovate-acute, 19–24(–30) mm long, 10–13(–27) mm wide, pale brownish, thin scarious, many-nerved. Racemes conical to cylindric-acuminate, 23–30 cm long, ± 10 cm wide, erect, dense; buds erect to spreading, flowers nodding to pendulous when open. Floral bracts ovate-acute, amplexicaul below, 14–20 mm long, 5–6 mm wide, pale pinkish, thin, sub-scarious, many-nerved. Pedicels 20–30 mm long, pink to pinkish orange. Flowers: perianth dark pink in bud, dark pinkish to usually orange-red with greenish yellow tips when mature, 40–45 mm long, 6–7 mm across ovary, not narrowed above ovary, slightly widening to 7–9 mm in middle, slightly narrowing to 5–6 mm towards wide-open mouth, cylindric-trigonous; outer segments free to base, tips spreading; stamens with yellow filiform-flattened filaments, exserted to 5(–9) mm; ovary 7 × 3 mm, yellow; style yellow, exserted 4–6 mm.

Diagnostic characters:— Aloe framesii subsp. maraisii is distinguished by its short procumbent stem and rosettes that form dense groups. Leaves usually have copious white spots on both surfaces, but sometimes have only a few or are even without spots, with reddish brown marginal teeth 2–4 mm long. Inflorescences are usually simple or 2- branched, with racemes 23–30 cm long. Pedicels are 20–30 mm long. Flowers are 40–45 mm long. Leaf exudate dries brownish yellow, sometimes with a slight purple tinge.

Distribution:— Confined to the coastal strandveld on the West Coast from around Elands Bay to Saldanha, Western Cape, South Africa. Endemic to the Fynbos Biome.

Habitat:— Rocky sandstone outcrops and ridges in Strandveld Fynbos.

Elevation:— 0–50 m

Flowering time:— May–July

Etymology:— Commemorates Mr Sarel J. Marais (1943–), aloe enthusiast and owner of the Weskus Aloe Nursery, Moorreesburg , Western Cape, South Africa, who is extremely knowledgeable regarding the aloes that occur along South Africa’s West Coast and in Namaqualand.

General notes:— This is an exceptionally variable subspecies that differs considerably in growth form and leaf characters among the different populations.

Additional specimens examined (paratypes):— SOUTH AFRICA. Western Cape: Stompneus Bay, in St Helena Bay , 28 May 1952, A. Hertzog NBG 390 / 52 (holotype NBGm). St Helena Bay , 12 July 2010, R.R. Klopper & A.W. Klopper 348 & 349 (NBGgmc, PREgmc). Elands Bay , 12 July 2010, R.R. Klopper & A.W. Klopper 350 & 351 (NBGgmc, PREgmc). Vredenburg Dist., from St. Helena Bay to Slipper Bay , 14 June 1967, J.A. Marsh 186 ( NBG, PRE). Malmesbury Div., Saldanha Bay , Paternoster , H.W.R. Marloth PRE38429 ( PRE); Saldanha Bay , 1921, fl. ex hort. June–July 1924, H.W.R. Marloth 10996 ( PRE). Near Danger Bay, Saldanha Bay , 13 July 1946, F.M. Leighton s.n. ( BOL). Near Saldanha Bay , 30 January 1921, I.B. Pole-Evans s.n. ( K); May 1952, H. Hall 731 ( NBG) .

Figures

FIGURE 9. Aloe framesii subsp. maraisii. A. Known distribution (red shading). B. Dense group of rosettes with simple or 2-branched inflorescences. C. Rosette of bluish green leaves with very few white spots. D. Rosette of more greenish leaves with several spots. E. Raceme with orange-red, greenish yellow-tipped flowers. Photographs:Arrie W. Klopper (B, C, E. St Helena Bay, Western Cape, South Africa; D. Elands Bay, Western Cape, South Africa; July 2010).