Aloe gariepensis, Pillans

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

Aloe gariepensis

Aloe gariepensis was described by Neville S. Pillans (1933b: 213) from a population near Warmbad, Namibia that he visited in 1931. This aloe is restricted to both sides of the Orange River Valley from Grootderm to around Keimoes in the Northern Cape, South Africa, and as far north as Warmbad in Namibia. It grows in rock cracks on steep rocky slopes, often facing the Orange River in the driest part of its course (Klopper 2014). Its closest relative is A. microstigma from south-central and western South Africa. It is sometimes regarded as possibly only a robust form of A. microstigma ( Carter et al. 2011) .

The form with consistently greenish yellow flowers and stemless rosettes of strongly incurved, heavily striated leaves from the extreme western reaches of the Orange River are thought by some to constitute a separate species or subspecies ( Carter et al. 2011; J.J. Lavranos, pers. comm.). Others are of the opinion that the harsher environmental conditions in the lower reaches of the Orange River Valley are responsible for this variation and that it does not warrant taxonomic recognition ( Reynolds 1950; E.J. van Jaarsveld, pers. comm.).

The designation ‘ Aloe gariusana ’ is mentioned by Dinter (1928) in the account of his journeys in Namibia (then South West Africa). He had found this aloe with coppery red rosettes of striped leaves near Warmbad and near Garius. However, this ‘name’ was never validly published and it remains a nomen nudum that was taken up in the synonymy of Aloe gariepensis by Reynolds (1950).