Aloe Peglerae is quite a common plant in parts of the Transvaal, and may be found in quantities on the stony hills of the Magaliesberg round Pretoria. The species was first described by Dr. S. Schönland in 1903 from specimens collected by Miss Alice Pegler near Rustenburg. The peculiar lax arrangement of the leaves is very characteristic, and Miss Pegler not inaptly compared its appearance to a loose cabbage.
In the description accompanying Plate 107 (Aloe comosa) we described the method in which the flowers mature. Aloe Peglerae, as far as we have observed, is an exception to this general rule, as the style is exserted with the filaments and does not wait until the filaments are withdrawn, and the perianth withers before protruding.
Our plate was prepared from specimens which flowered at the Division of Botany, Pretoria.
Description:—Plant almost acaulescent with a dense rosette of leaves. Leaves curved, about 28 cm. long, 5·5 cm. broad, below lanceolate, ending in a short spine, almost flat on the upper surface, slightly convex on the lower surface, faintly keeled and spiny on the back in the uppermost third, with the margins spiny; the spines on lower portion of leaf about 1 mm. long and about 5 mm. apart, becoming 5 mm. long and 1·5 cm. apart in the upper part of the leaf. Peduncle solitary from the middle of the leaf rosette, about 1·2 cm. in diameter and covered with ovate long-acuminate erect membranous bracts. Flower spike about 18 cm. long, up to 8 cm. in diameter; flowers at first reddish, becoming greenish-white at maturity. Outer perianth-segments 2·5 cm. long,[{120}] 6 mm. broad, oblanceolate, with the apex slightly recurved, 3-nerved; inner segments 2 cm. long, 8 mm. broad, oblong, 1-nerved. Stamens at length long exserted; filaments dark purple above, greenish below, linear. Ovary 5 mm. long, ellipsoid; style 4·2 cm. long, cylindric, exserted with the stamens; stigma small (National Herb. Pretoria, No. 2846).
Plate 149.—Fig. 1, upper portion of leaf; Fig. 2, flower; Fig. 3, median longitudinal section of a flower.
F.P.S.A., 1924.