Aloe pruinosa Reynolds, 1936

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 pruinosa Reynolds

Common names.

Kleinaalwyn, slangkop (Afrikaans); icena elihkulu (Zulu).

Description.

Shortly caulescent plant, 0.25-0.60 m tall. Stem up to 0.5 m, unbranched, procumbent; rosettes solitary, erect. Leaves densely rosulate, erectly spreading to slightly recurved, bright green, with numerous white, somewhat H-shaped spots, scattered or confluent in wavy, irregular, interrupted, transverse bands, spots more numerous and in more defined transverse bands on lower surface, lanceolate-attenuate, 50-70 cm long, 8-10 cm wide at base; margin with deltoid, pungent, pale pinkish-brown teeth, 3-4 mm long, 15-20 mm apart; exudate honey-coloured, drying deep purple. Inflorescence 1.4-2.0 m high, erect, ± 11-branched above middle. Racemes cylindrical-acuminate, terminal up to 30 cm long, 7 cm wide, lateral shorter, usually 10-12 cm long, lax. Floral bracts 10-20 mm long. Pedicels 10-20 mm long. Flowers: perianth dull dark brownish-red to pinkish white, with heavy grey powdery bloom, 30-40 mm long, 8 mm across ovary, abruptly constricted above ovary to form globose basal swelling, widening towards mouth, sharply decurved, laterally compressed; outer segments free for 5-7 mm; stamens exserted 1-2 mm; style exserted 1-4 mm.

Flowering time.

February-March.

Habitat.

In shade in acacia savannah in KwaZulu-Natal midlands on heavy loam in areas of fairly high summer rainfall.

Diagnostic characters.

Aloe pruinosa can be distinguished from other maculate aloes in KwaZulu-Natal ( Aloe dewetii , Aloe maculata subsp. maculata , Aloe mudenensis , Aloe parvibracteata , Aloe prinslooi , Aloe suffulta , Aloe umfoloziensis , Aloe vanrooyenii and Aloe viridiana ) by the tall, ± 11-branched inflorescence (1.4-2.0 m high) with the peduncle and flowers that are very heavily coated with a greyish powdery substance. The flowers, which are dull dark brownish-red to pinkish-white, 30-40 mm long and with a globose basal swelling (8 mm diameter), have the most pronounced powdery-covered leaves and inflorescence of all South African aloe species. It is further characterised by the erectly spreading to slightly recurved leaves (50-70 × 8-10 cm) that are spotted on both surfaces, with the spots more pronounced on the lower surface. Marginal teeth are 3-4 mm long. The lax racemes are cylindrical-acuminate, with the terminal one the longest (up to 30 × 7 cm) and the lateral ones usually 10-12 cm long ( Smith et al. 1999).

Conservation status.

Endangered. Threats include urban expansion and harvesting for use in traditional medicine ( Raimondo et al. 2009, L. von Staden pers. comm.).

Distribution.

Occurs from Pietermartizburg to Durban and northwards to the uThukela (Tugela) River valley, KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa (Fig. 35 ).

Figures

Figure 35. Aloe pruinosa. Photo: N. R. Crouch.