Liliaceae. Tribe Aloineae.
Aloe, Linn.; Benth. et Hook. f. Gen. Plant. vol. iii. p. 776.
Aloe excelsa, Berger in Notizblatt. Berl. Bot. Gart. u. Museums, vol. iv. (1906) 247; Das Pflanzenreich, vol. iv. 38, p. 314.
This arborescent Aloe forms one of the most conspicuous features of the vegetation of the Matoppos in Rhodesia in July and August, when it brightens up the Kopjes with its crimson flowers. Full-grown plants vary in height from 15-20 feet, and one of their chief characteristics is the graceful recurving of the ends of the leaves. Our illustration is made from one of the many plants of this species which adorn the rockeries of the Union Buildings, and which were collected by Mr. J. Wickens on the Matoppos. The plants thrive well in Pretoria, and attract consideration through their deep carmine inflorescence. They flower in Pretoria during August and September.
Specimens are preserved in the National Herbarium (Herb. No. 1453).
Description:—Aborescent up to 5-6·3 m. high. Stems about 3-4 cm. in diameter. Leaves crowded and forming a rosette at the end of the stem up to 0·2 m. long, 8-9 cm. broad at the base, gradually narrowing to the apex, lanceolate-ovate, acuminate, with the uppermost third gracefully recurved, deeply channelled above, convex beneath, with spines along the margin and with spines on the under surface; spines 4 mm. long, 5 mm. apart below and about 2·6 cm. apart on the upper portion of the leaf. Inflorescence a panicle; peduncle 13-16 cm. long, compressed, convex on both surfaces, with a prominent ridge on either side. Bracts ovate, acute, membranous. Ultimate racemes 22-25 cm. long, 5·5 cm. in diameter, cylindric, densely many-flowered. Floral-bracts brown, about 5 mm. long, 5 mm. broad at the base, ovate, acute. Flowers subsessile; perianth-tube 1 cm. long, 5 mm. in diameter, oblong in outline; lobes 1·8 cm. long, 0·6 mm. broad, oblong, obtuse, 3-nerved, the outer with a small rostrate body just below the apex; the inner perianth-segments free to the base. Ovary 5 mm. long, 3 mm. broad, oblong; style 2·7 cm. long, cylindric; stigma simple.
Plate 62.—Fig. 1, plant much reduced; Fig. 2, stamens; Fig. 3, perianth-segments; Fig. 4, apices of outer and inner perianth-segments; Fig. 5, flower; Fig. 6, bract; Fig. 7, leaf; Fig. 8, transverse section of leaf.