Aloe saundersiae (Reynolds) Reynolds, 1947

Klopper, Ronell R., Crouch, Neil R., Smith, Gideon F. & van Wyk, Abraham E., 2020, A synoptic review of the aloes (Asphodelaceae, Alooideae) of KwaZulu-Natal, an ecologically diverse province in eastern South Africa, PhytoKeys 142, pp. 1-88 : 1

E Aloe saundersiae (Reynolds) Reynolds

Description.

Acaulescent grass aloe, 0.05-0.075 m high; rosettes solitary or suckering to form small tufted groups. Leaves rosulate, widely spreading to recurved, deciduous, green, without spots or with few white spots near base on lower surface, narrowly linear, 4-10 cm long, 0.3 cm wide, basally amplexicaul and 1 cm wide below ground; margin with rather soft, white, deltoid teeth, ± 0.5 mm long, 1 mm apart; exudate clear. Inflorescence 0.14-0.18 m high, erect, simple. Raceme capitate, 2.0-2.5 cm long, 3.0-3.5 mm wide, dense. Floral bracts 7 mm long, 3-4 mm wide. Pedicels 8-10 mm long. Flowers: perianth pale cream-pink, 9-12 mm long, 3-4 mm across ovary, narrowing towards slightly upturned mouth, cylindrical-trigonous, slightly ventricose; outer segments free to base; stamens and style not exserted.

Flowering time.

February-March.

Habitat.

Rocky outcrops in rock crevices and clumps of moss or in flat exposed places in short rocky grassland on mountain tops, in rich black soil.

Diagnostic characters.

Aloe saundersiae can be distinguished from other grass aloes in KwaZulu-Natal with unkeeled leaves that are usually narrower than 3.5 cm and that lack a bulb-like underground swelling ( Aloe dominella , Aloe linearifolia , Aloe micracantha , Aloe minima , Aloe nicholsii and Aloe parviflora ), by its rosulate, spreading to recurved leaves (4-10 × 0.3 cm) that are without spots or with a few white spots near the base on the lower surface. The unbranched inflorescences (0.14-0.18 m high) have dense, capitate racemes of small, pale pinkish flowers (9-12 mm long), with the mouth slightly upturned and with spreading tips, but not bilabiate. Pedicels are 8-10 mm long. Rosettes are solitary or in small tufted groups.

Conservation status.

Endangered. Threats include overgrazing and too frequent fires ( Raimondo et al. 2009, L. von Staden pers. comm.).

Distribution.

Only known from the central parts of KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa (Fig. 38 ).

Figures

Figure 38. Aloe saundersiae. Photo: N. R. Crouch.