Aloe vandermerwei Reynolds

Smith, Gideon F., Figueiredo, Estrela, Klopper, Ronell R. & Crouch, Neil R., 2012, Summer-flowering species of maculate Aloe L. (Asphodelaceae: Alooideae) in the Aloe zebrina-complex from South Africa: reinstatement of four names, and description of A. braamvanwykii Gideon F. Sm. & Figueiredo, Bradleya 30, pp. 155-166 : 161

Aloe vandermerwei Reynolds in The aloes of South Africa: 268 (1950).

A. angustifolia Groenew. (nom. illegit.) in Floae. Pl. S. Afr. 18: t.708 (1938).

Type: South Africa, Limpopo Province, near Gravelotte , April 1936, F.Z. van der Meraee s.n. in PRE 21288 ( PRE, holo.)

Diagnostic characters: This aloe occurs in dense groups. Leaves are remarkably long (up to 60 cm) relative to their width (3.5 cm), spreading and downwards curved, often twisted and intermingled giving it a snake-like appearance ( Figure 7 ). Leaves are usually distinctly spotted on the lower surface, with spots more confluent and in more pronounced bands than the upper surface. Inflorescences are up to 1 m high and branched from above the middle. Flowers are 30 mm long and flesh-pink, with a 1.0– 1.5 mm wide whitish border on the outer perianth segments.

Distribution: It is occurs from between Leydsdorp and Gravelotte, westwards to Malopene and Letaba in the Kruger National Park, and southwards to the Timbavati area, Limpopo, South Africa.

Habitat: Red clayey soil in grassveld and lowveld in openings among acacia and other trees.

Figures

Figure 7. A. Uandermeraeei has very long, narrow, curved and almost snake-like leaves. Photo: Philip Nel. Figure 8. Rosettes of A. zebrina showing the distinctly marked upper and lower surfaces. Photo: Ernst J. van Jaarsveld.