Aloe andersonii Van Jaarsv. & Nel, 2014

Van Jaarsveld, Ernst J., 2014, Aloe andersonii, a new cliff-dwelling aloe from Mpumalanga, South Africa, Bradleya 32, pp. 112-117 : 112-113

Aloe andersonii Van Jaarsv. & Nel sp. nov., ab A.challisii caulibus 50–100cm metientibus, vestigia fibrosa foliorum delapsarum vestitis, folia viridia, canaliculata, lineari-lanceolata ferentibus; inflorescentiis 90–150cm longis (racemis 65–70cm metientibus) et perianthiis cylindraceis, 30mm longis satis distinguitur.

Type — Mpumalanga, 2530 (Lydenburg): Mount Anderson , sheer east-facing quartzitic, sandstone cliffs, (– BC), Van Jaarsveld & Nel 24278 ( PRE, holo.) .

Description

Perennial succulent with subterranean suckers, forming small, dense groups up to 300mm. in diameter. Roots fleshy up to 6mm in diameter. Stems spreading to pendent 50–100mm long and 20–25mm in diameter, their bases covered with old leaf remains. Leaves firm but fleshy, rosulate, 7–11 per branch, linear-lanceolate, 150–254 x 8– 14 mm curved and pendent from rock faces, canaliculate, smooth, green, white-spotted at base; abaxial side convex, adaxial side flat to channelled, purplish green towards base; margin denticulate, semi-translucent, white, cartilaginous; teeth 0. 5 x 0.3mm, 1– 1.5mm apart; apex acute to subacute, armed with 3–4 teeth. Inflorescence simple, decumbent, 90–150mm tall; peduncle 90mm long, 6–7mm broad at base, biconvex and slightly flattened at base, terete upwards, with 6 sterile bracts, 15mm long and clasping up to 6–7mm at base; raceme short, subcapitate 65–70mm long, up to 20-flowered; floral bracts scarious, deltoid, acuminate, 14 x 5 mm; pedicels 22–25mm long, ascending, orange. Perianth cylindrical, pendent, 30mm long, bright orange-red; apices obtuse to subacute, green-tipped; tube cylindrical-trigonous; segments with a median green stripe, adnate, outer three concave, 30 x 4 mm, widening to 6mm, linear-lanceolate, canaliculate; inner three oblanceolate, not as deeply canaliculate, 30 x 6 mm at widest point tapering to base and narrowing towards apex. Stamens yellowish, 25–29mm long. Ovary oblong, 9 x 3mm, grooved, brownish green; style 21mm long. Capsule and seed not seen. Flowering time: mainly in spring (October).

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Distribution and habitat

Aloe andersonii is known only from the upper east facing steep slopes on ledges and just above the sheer, quartzitic sandstone cliffs along the eastern part of Mount Anderson which forms part of the northern Drakensberg ( Figure 3 ). It grows at an altitude of 1, 700–1200m, frequently covered in cloud. Plants occur scattered in rock crevices on and above the sheer cliff faces ( Figures 3 & 6). Grass fires regularly take place during the dry winters and the old leaf remains of the stems act as a fire insulator, the plant soon sprouting after a fire. Rainfall is high, from 1, 500–1,750mm per annum, and is experienced mainly in summer. Vegetation of the region consists of Lydenburg Mountain Grassland (Mesic Highveld Grassland Bioregion) and Northern Afromontane forest in the kloofs (Mucina 2006). The new species was found in association with other temperate, highaltitude plants such as Crassula pellucida subsp. brachypetala , C. sarcocaulis , Albuca sp. aff. caffrorum, Senecio orbicularis , Rhodohypoxis baurii , Ledebouria saundersiae and a species of Streptocarpus.

Figures

Figure 3. The cliff face habitat of Aloe andersonii at Mount Anderson, Drakensberg (Mpumalanga).