Aloe petricola

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Aloe petricola
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Scientific classification OOjs UI icon edit-ltr.svg
Kingdom: Plantae
Clade: Tracheophytes
Clade: Angiosperms
Clade: Monocots
Order: Asparagales
Family: Asphodelaceae
Subfamily: Asphodeloideae
Genus: Aloe
Species:
A. petricola
Binomial name
Aloe petricola
Pole-Evans [1]

Aloe petricola belongs to the genus Aloe in the family Asphodelaceae, and is commonly known as a stone aloe. This particular aloe is a flowering species with unique and distinct inflorescences, which make the plant easy to identify and distinguish from other Aloe plants. [2] Aloe petricola is very popular for gardening because of its beautiful and radiant colors. Like many Aloe species, Aloe petricola is used for medical purposes, as it aids in healing wounds and minor burns.

Contents

Description

Aloe petricola is a medium sized plant that grows fairly low to the ground. This plant reaches anywhere from 18-24 inches in height and can reach a little over a meter in width, while its inflorescences can reach about 4 feet, surpassing the height of the plant's fleshy leaves. [3] This succulent plant is virtually stemless and has rosettes of blue-green colored leaves. [4] These leaves contain thorns on their surfaces and have short, triangular toothed margins. A mature plant can have up to six branches of flowers, which are long, skinny, densely flowered racemes, carried on stout stems. The inflorescences are tightly packed with dark brown anthers, and typically include at least two colors, usually a deep red towards the top where the buds are seen, and cream-yellow color at the bottom towards the base, reaching the stem of the flower. Flowers on the Aloe petricola plant are tube-shaped and about 30mm long. [5] The colors on these plants are bright and vibrant, and they change as they begin to open, revealing more of the yellow color towards the bottom.

Growth and gardening

Aloe petricola grows best in early to mid winter, but flowers on this plant typically do not bloom until mid summer, and are seen at their best towards the end of July and beginning of August in the northern hemisphere. Like almost all other aloes, Aloe petricola is drought resistant, meaning that it needs little to no water to survive. This resistance is due to the fact that the leaves of this plant can store water, so they can essentially take care of themselves, making this plant ideal for any gardener. [2] [6] Additional growth requirements for this succulent plant include a soil pH that is either acidic, neutral (pH=7), or very slightly basic. It also grows in different soil types, from clay-like soils to sandy soils. [7] This makes maintenance of the plant nearly effortless given the right environment. Aloe petricola is a greatly desired plant for most gardeners because it is considered an undemanding garden plant. Aside from its simple upkeep, this aloe grows quite well in cultivation and looks outstanding either on its own or bunched in groups. The plant's striking and luminous red, yellow, green, and white colors stand out, while they add beauty and elegance to any garden.

Other Information

Aloe petricola is native in South Africa, specifically in Mpumalanga. [2] This aloe tends to grow in rocky locations, where the plant is surrounded in stones, and the soil is only covering the roots. The name “petricola” was given to the plant suggesting that it lives and thrives in rocky places. [5] The word breaks up into ‘petri,’ which means stones, and ‘cola,’ which means fond of. [8] Aloe petricola plants are often pollinated by sunbirds, which use them as food plants as they seek nectar in their flowers. This plant is also widely used in medicine. Aloes, most commonly Aloe vera , are known for treating minor wounds and burns. Aloe petricola plants, however, have sap filled leaves which, for centuries, have been frequently used as a remedy to heal stomach ailments. [9]

Related Research Articles

<i>Gonialoe variegata</i> Species of flowering plant

Gonialoe variegata, also known as tiger aloe and partridge-breasted aloe, is a species of flowering plant in the family Asphodelaceae. It is an evergreen succulent perennial indigenous to South Africa and Namibia. It is common in cultivation.

<i>Aloe arborescens</i> Species of succulent

Aloe arborescens, the krantz aloe or candelabra aloe, is a species of flowering succulent perennial plant that belongs to the genus Aloe, which it shares with the well known and studied Aloe vera. The specific epithet arborescens means "tree-like". Aloe arborescens is valued by gardeners for its succulent green leaves, large vibrantly-colored flowers, winter blooming, and attraction for birds, bees, and butterflies.

<i>Aloe polyphylla</i> Species of succulent

Aloe polyphylla, the spiral aloe, kroonaalwyn, lekhala kharetsa, or many-leaved aloe, is a species of flowering plant in the genus Aloe that is endemic to the Kingdom of Lesotho in the Drakensberg mountains. An evergreen succulent perennial, it is well known for its strikingly symmetrical, five-pointed spiral growth habit.

<i>Aloe comosa</i> Species of plant in the family Asphodelaceae

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<i>Aloe ferox</i> Species of succulent

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<i>Kumara plicatilis</i> Species of tree

Kumara plicatilis, formerly Aloe plicatilis, the fan-aloe, is a succulent plant endemic to a few mountains in the Fynbos ecoregion, of the Western Cape in South Africa. The plant has an unusual and striking fan-like arrangement of its leaves. It may grow as a large multistemmed shrub or as a small tree. It is one of the two species in the genus Kumara.

<i>Aloiampelos commixta</i> Species of plant in the family Asphodelaceae

Aloiampelos commixta is a flowering plant in the Asphodelaceae family. It is commonly called Table Mountain aloe, and is a rare succulent plant that is endemic to the Cape Peninsula, South Africa. It naturally occurs only on the Table Mountain range, within the city of Cape Town.

<i>Aloiampelos striatula</i> Species of flowering plant

Aloiampelos striatula, formerly Aloe striatula, the hardy aloe or striped-stemmed aloe, is a sturdy succulent plant that naturally occurs on the summits of mountains along the south of the Karoo region of South Africa. Tough and hardy, with bright yellow flowers, it is also cultivated as a garden ornamental.

<i>Aloe perfoliata</i> Species of succulent

Aloe perfoliata, the rubble aloe or mitre aloe, is a hardy creeping aloe, found in rocky, mountainous areas throughout the Western Cape, South Africa.

<i>Aloe buettneri</i> Species of plant

Aloe buettneri is a species of succulent plant in the family Asphodelaceae. It is found in West Africa and is known for its medicinal uses.

<i>Aloe broomii</i> Species of succulent

Aloe broomii, known as the mountain aloe or snake aloe on account of its odd inflorescence, is a species of flowering plant in the genus Aloe, found in southern Africa.

<i>Celosia argentea <span style="font-style:normal;">var.</span> cristata</i> Variety of flowering plant

Celosia argentea var. cristata, known as cockscomb, is the cristate or crested variety of the species Celosia argentea. It was likely originally native to India, where it was saved from extinction in cultivation by the religious significance attached to the variety by Indian, Burmese, and Chinese gardeners who planted it near temples. The name cockscomb is used because the flower looks like the head on a rooster (cock). The plants are resistant to most diseases, and grow equally well indoors or out, though the perfect place is one with no shade and a well-drained soil, as the plant is susceptible to fungal diseases.

<i>Crassula ovata</i> Species of succulent

Crassula ovata, commonly known as jade plant, lucky plant, money plant or money tree, is a succulent plant with small pink or white flowers that is native to the KwaZulu-Natal and Eastern Cape provinces of South Africa, and Mozambique; it is common as a houseplant worldwide. Much of its popularity stems from the low levels of care needed; the jade plant requires little water and can survive in most indoor conditions. It is sometimes referred to as the money tree; however, Pachira aquatica also has this nickname.

<i>Aloe rupestris</i> Species of plant

Aloe rupestris is an arborescent aloe indigenous to summer-rainfall areas of southern Africa.

<i>Aloe tormentorii</i> Species of succulent

Aloe tormentorii is a species of Aloe endemic to the island of Mauritius, in the Indian Ocean.

<i>Aloe purpurea</i> Species of succulent

Aloe purpurea is a species of Aloe endemic to the island of Mauritius, in the Indian Ocean, where it formerly occurred on dry rocky slopes and outcrops, the highland plateaus, and the forests of the west. It is part of a group of aloes which bear fleshy berries, and were therefore classed as a separate group, "Lomatophyllum". It is also one of only two Aloe species which naturally occur on Mauritius - both endemic and occurring nowhere else.

<i>Aloe lomatophylloides</i> Species of plant

Aloe lomatophylloides is a unique species of Aloe endemic to the island of Rodrigues, in the Indian Ocean. It is part of a group of aloes which bear fleshy berries, and were therefore classed as a separate group, Aloe section Lomatophyllum.

<i>Aloe macra</i> Species of succulent

Aloe macra is a species of Aloe endemic to the island of Réunion, in the Indian Ocean.

<i>Aloe aldabrensis</i> Species of succulent

Aloe aldabrensis is a species of Aloe endemic to the islands of Aldabra in the Indian Ocean, where it can still be found in coastal scrub on limestone-based soil.

<i>Ficus amplissima</i> Species of fig tree

Ficus amplissima, also known as the Indian Bat tree, Indian Bat fig, Pimpri, Pipri (Piparee), Pipali or Bilibasari mara is a tree species of flowering plants that belongs to Moraceae, the fig or mulberry family. It is native to Central and southern Peninsular India, Sri Lanka and Maldives, having a significant distribution throughout Western Ghats of India. It is most commonly planted to provide shade in coffee plantations due to its dense and wide foliage. The ripened figs attract many birds, especially during the spring.

References

  1. World Checklist of Selected Plant Families, Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew , retrieved 2011-05-20
  2. 1 2 3 "Faucon, Phillipe. "Aloe petricola" Desert-Tropicals.(2005)". Archived from the original on 2012-11-10. Retrieved 2011-05-23.
  3. Riffle, Robert L. “The Tropical Look: an encyclopedia of dramatic landscape plants.” p. 42
  4. Succulent Plants. “Aloe petricola”
  5. 1 2 Succulent-Plant-Site. (2004)
  6. Richa. "Care For Aloe Plant" . Retrieved 2022-01-09.
  7. "Horticopia. (2011) "Aloe petricola"". Archived from the original on 2011-09-27. Retrieved 2011-05-23.
  8. "Fabriqué en Afrique | Nous sommes fières d'être en partenariat avec des entreprises africaines responsables" . Retrieved 2022-06-09.
  9. CactusCollection. PlantLibrary. “Stone Aloe” Archived 2013-01-19 at archive.today