Aloe microstigma subsp. microstigma, Salm-Dyck

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

4a. Aloe microstigma subsp. microstigma ( Fig. 14 )

Type:—As for A. microstigma .

Description:— Acaulescent plants or stem short, up to 0.5 m high, up to 10 cm diameter, simple or branched, sometimes procumbent, usually erect, with persistent dried leaves; rosettes usually single, sometimes in small groups. Leaves densely rosulate, erectly spreading, usually reddish green (colour can vary considerably), both surfaces usually copiously white-spotted, obscurely lineate, lanceolate-deltoid, 30–50 cm long, (4–) 6–8 cm wide at base, without spines or prickles; margin with pungent, deltoid, reddish brown teeth, 2–4 mm long, 5–10 mm apart; exudate yellow, drying dark yellow. Inflorescences usually 2 or 3 simultaneously, 0.6–0.8 m high, erect or slightly arcuate-erect, simple. Peduncle 1.1–2.3 cm wide and plano-convex below, terete above, greenish to brownish; with several sterile bracts, broadly deltoid, acute, (15–)20–30(–37) mm long, 10–20(–27) mm wide, brownish, thin, scarious, many-nerved. Raceme conical to cylindric-acuminate, 20–40 cm long, bicoloured, subdense; buds erect to spreading, hidden by densely imbricate bracts, flowers nodding to pendulous when open. Floral bracts lanceolate-acute, ± 10–25 mm long, 4–8 mm wide, deep brown, thin, dry, many-nerved. Pedicels (16–)25–30(–37) mm long, yellowish to pinkish green. Flowers: perianth dull red in bud, sometimes greenish yellow, yellowing with age, sometimes uniformly yellow or red, 25–35 mm long, 4–6 mm across ovary, enlarging slightly to 6–9 mm towards middle, narrowing to 4–5 mm towards mouth, cylindric to ventricose; outer segments free to base, tips slightly spreading; stamens with pale lemon, filiform-flattened filaments, exserted 2–5(–7) mm; ovary 6–8 mm long, 3 mm diameter, green; style yellow, exserted 4–6 (– 10) mm.

Diagnostic characters:— Aloe microstigma subsp. microstigma is distinguished by its usually copiously white-spotted leaves in solitary rosettes or with rosettes sometimes in groups. Leaves are 6–8 cm wide, with reddish brown marginal teeth of 2–4 mm long. Inflorescences are simple, 0.6–0.8 m high, and usually with bicoloured racemes of 20–40 cm long. Floral buds are red or yellow and mature flowers greenish yellow and 25–35 mm long. Pedicels are 25–30 mm long. Floral bracts (10–25 mm) are usually half as long as pedicels. Leaf exudate does not dry purple (dries dark yellow).

Distribution:— It occurs fairly widespread in the western parts of the Eastern Cape, the central areas of the Western Cape and just into the Northern Cape in the Tankwa Karoo and Calvinia area, South Africa.

Habitat:— Rocky outcrops in Karoo and Namaqua Broken Veld. In hot, dry flat country, sometimes on steep slopes.

Elevation:— 50–1 200 m

Flowering time:— May–August

Etymology:— From Greek ‘mikros’ (small), ‘stigma’ (spot, stigma); refers to the small white spots on the leaves.

General notes:— Aloe microstigma is very variable in leaf colour and markings, and colour of the flowers. Leaves vary from entirely without spots, to copiously spotted on both surfaces. In the west of its distribution range flowers are more glossy, whereas they are more dull and with a bloom in the east. In the west plants with unicoloured yellow racemes occur together with the normal bicoloured forms. Near Robertson plants with unicoloured red racemes have been recorded ( Reynolds 1950).

Aloe brunnthaleri A.Berger ex Cammerl. from near Matjiesfontein and Laingsburg is only a yellow-flowering form of Aloe microstigma ( Reynolds 1950) .

Aloe microstigma was grown in Schönbrunn Gardens, Vienna, Austria in 1816, where Salm-Dyck reportedly saw it ( Reynolds 1950).

Additional specimens examined:— SOUTH AFRICA. Eastern Cape: Middelburg , 20 July 1948, J . Theron 501 (PREm); Conway farm, September 1899, D. F . Gilfillan 5575 (PREm). Graaff-Reinet Distr., Karoo Nature Reserve , 25 July 1981, M. T . Linger 2119 (PREm). Graaff-Reinet , May 1867, H . Bolus 598 ( BOL, K); Miss Auret Nat.Bot.Gardens 170 ( BOL); Fl. at Botany Laboratory , 20 May 1916, P. J . Pienaar 150 ( K, PREm); Fl. at Kirstenbosch , July 1915, J. C . Auret NBG 1710 / 14 ( BOL). Jansenville area, on Klipplaat road, 4 July 2010, R. R . Klopper & A. W . Klopper 292 & 293 (GRAgmc, PREgmc). Baviaanskloof / Makedaad , 30 January 2003, G . Middelberg 168 ( PRE). Steytlerville Golf course, 10 November 2004, G. J . Bredenkamp & M . Watson 63 ( PRE); L. P . Steenkamp 183 ( GRA, PRE). Addo bush, June 1904, Curator Pretoria Bot. Garden 2493 ( PRE); 13 August 1915, S . Schönland 112 (PREm, SAM); Fl. ex hort., S . Schönland SAM22682 ( SAM); Fl. ex hort Schönland , June–July 1899, S . Schönland 1502 ( GRA, SAM); Fl. in Grahamstown , July 1907, s. coll. BOL No. 24294 ( BOL). Near Fort Brown , August 1934, G. W . Reynolds 872 ( BOL). Grahamstown-Bedford road, at Carlisle’s Bridge turnoff, 4 July 2010, R. R . Klopper & A. W . Klopper 287 & 288 (GRAgmc, PREgmc). Grahamstown-Bedford road, near Carlisle’s Bridge at Fort Beaufort turnoff, 4 July 2010, R. R . Klopper & A. W . Klopper 285 & 286 (PREgmc). Albany , S of Carlisle Bridge, 28 June 1935, G. W . Reynolds 1421 ( BOL, K, PREm); 15 July 1949, G. W . Reynolds 5440 ( GRA, PREm, SAM); Fish River Valley, near Carlisle Bridge , 23 June 1938, G. W . Reynolds 2405 (PREm). Between Grahamstown and Carlisle Bridge , August 1927, R. A . Dyer 985 ( GRA). Grahamstown, on Cradock Road , near Carlisle Bridge , July 1925, R. A . Dyer 1578 ( GRA). Albany Dist., beyond Hellspoort on road to Bedford , June 1936, G. G . Smith 347 ( PRE). Grahamstown, on Cradock Road , July 1929, R. A . Dyer 2000 ( GRA). Albany Dist., Grahamstown , 17 June 1941, L. A . Bolus NBG 1423 / 32 ( NBG); Ex hort. H. H . Bolus , July 1929, H. H . Bolus 88 ( BOL). Cradock, 22 July 1932, Immelman s.n. ( K). Midlands of Cape Province, fl. ex hort. East London , July 1933, G. G . Smith 182 ( BOL) . Western Cape: Matjesfontein, fl. at Kirstenbosch , July 1915, L . Bolus NBG 2264 / 14 ( BOL); Dr Beattie NBG 2532 / 14 ( BOL). Wuppertal, Matjiesrivier Nature Reserve, Sandleegte and Zuurfontein Farmstead , 14 September 2002, A. B . Low 7829 (NBGm). Kagga Kamma Nature Reserve, near Bobbejaankrans camp, 12 August 2012, M . Koekemoer 4308 (PREm). Worcester, De Doorns , June 1921, H. W. R . Marloth 10141 (PREm). Worcester , July 1912, H. W. R . Marloth 5157 ( NBG, PRE); August 1919, H. W. R . Marloth 8768 ( PRE); N of Worcester, 12 July 1949, G. W . Reynolds 5429 (epitype PREm); Worcester Dist. Field Reserve , July 1963, M. C . Olivier 95 ( NBG); Karoo Desert National Botanical Garden , 3 November 2008, O. M . Grace , E . van Wyk , et al. 127 ( K); 9 July 2010, R. R . Klopper & A. W . Klopper 331 & 332 (NBGgmc, PREgmc). Between Goudini and Worcester , 12 May 1928, N. S . Pillans 6797 ( BOL). Between Worcester and Robertson , fl. Grahamstown , August 1907, s. coll. ( GRA). Robertson , W of Robertson, 12 July 1949, G. W . Reynolds 5430 (PREm). Touwsrivier , 12 March 1904, I. B . Pole-Evans 16 ( PRE); 28 May 1919, I. B . Pole Evans 213 (PREm, SAM). Laingsburg area, near Anysberg , 6 July 2010, R. R . Klopper & A. W . Klopper 310 & 311 (NBGgmc, PREgmc); Anysberg road, between Rooinek and Rondekop, 6 July 2010, R. R . Klopper & A. W . Klopper 308 & 309 (NBGgmc, PREgmc). Laingsburg, fl. Grahamstown July 1905, S . Schonland GRA No. A7260 ( GRA). Between Ladismith and Laingsburg , fl. hort. H. H . Bolus, Kennilworth , July 1928, H. H . Bolus 92 ( BOL). Montagu, Nougas Hills , 11 July 1954, A. J. M . Middlemast 1872 (NBGm). Heidelberg Distr., Grootvadersbosch State Forest , Duiwenhoksrivier ravine, 31 July 1974, R. A . Haynes 967 (PREm). Laingsburg area, road to Seweweekspoort , near Nietvoorby , 6 July 2010, R. R . Klopper & A. W . Klopper 306 & 307 (NBGgmc, PREgmc). Little Karoo, Farm Die Eike , Five Oaks , 20 August 1982, D. F . Laidler 317 ( NBG, PRE). Klein Karoo, near Muiskraal , 29 July 1983, P . Bohnen 8223 ( NBG). Riversdale, Phesantefontein , June 1925, J . Muir 3619 (PREm). Oudtshoorn area , R62 near Calitzdorp , 6 July 2010, R. R . Klopper & A. W . Klopper 303 & 304 (NBGgmc, PREgmc). Klaarstroom area, on Prince Albert road, 5 July 2010, R. R . Klopper & A. W . Klopper 299 (NBGm, PREm) & 300 (NBGgmc, PREgmc). Oudtshoorn, De Rust , 2 August 1958, S . Burger PRE38403 ( PRE). Oudtshoorn, fl. in Grahamstown , August 1908, A . Taylor s.n. ( GRA, K); Ex hort. Kirstenbosch , 3 August 1943, M. R . Henderson 1749 ( NBG); Oudtshoorn Dist., Cango Valley , 8 August 1949, W. F . Barker 5481 ( NBG). Prince Albert, Swartberg , between Prince Albert and Meiringspoort, 2 August 1958, S . Burger PRE38402 (PREm) . Uniondale, on Willowmore road, close to first De Rust turnoff from Willowmore , 5 July 2010, R. R . Klopper & A. W . Klopper 297 & 298 (GRAgmc, PREgmc). Willowmore, ex hort. Stellenbosch University , August 1932, H . Herre SUGardens 5053 ( BOL) . Northern Cape: Calvinia, Akkerendam Nature Reserve , 7 August 1993, A. M . Jooste 46 ( NBG); R. R . Klopper & A. W . Klopper 341 (KMGg, PREg); Bloukranz Pass , 11 July 2010, R. R . Klopper & A. W . Klopper 340 (KMGgmc, PRE). Tankwa Karoo National Park, Farm Kleinfontein 1027, top of Gannaga Pass , 8 May 2006, R. R . Klopper 321 (PREm); 10 July 2010, R. R . Klopper & A. W . Klopper 336 (KMGgc, PREgc) & 337 ( NBG, PRE) .

Figures

FIGURE 14. Aloe microstigma subsp. microstigma. A. Known distribution (red shading). B. Single rosette with simple, bicoloured inflorescences. C. Rosette of grey-green leaves with copious white spots on both surfaces. D. Rosette of reddish leaves with copious white spots. E. Single rosette with reddish leaves and simple, unicoloured, yellow inflorescences. F. Raceme with red buds and yellow, greentipped open flowers. Photographs:Arrie W. Klopper (B, C. Uniondale, Western Cape, South Africa; D, E. Anysberg, Western Cape, South Africa; F. Carlisle Bridge, Eastern Cape, South Africa; July 2010).