Aloe polyphylla

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Aloe polyphylla
Aloe polyphylla 3.jpg
CITES Appendix I (CITES) [1]
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. polyphylla
Binomial name
Aloe polyphylla
Pillans

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.

Contents

Name and taxonomy

Aloe polyphylla is commonly known as the spiral aloe in English, kroonaalwyn in Afrikaans, or lekhala kharetsa in Sesotho. The species epithet polyphylla means "many-leaved" in Greek. [2] Taxonomically, it forms part of the Rhodacanthae series of very closely related Aloe species, together with Aloe glauca , Aloe lineata and Aloe pratensis . [3]

Description

Spiral formed by leaves with emerging flower bud. Aloe polyphylla with flower bud.jpg
Spiral formed by leaves with emerging flower bud.

Aloe polyphylla is a stemless aloe and grows its leaves in a very distinctive spiral shape which may be clockwise or anti-clockwise. The plants do not seem to sucker or produce offshoots, but from the germination of their seeds they can form small, dense clumps. The fat, wide, serrated, gray-green leaves have sharp, dark leaf-tips and grow in the five spiral rows. This aloe flowers at the beginning of summer, producing flowers that range in colour from red to salmon pink and occasionally yellow, at the head of robust, branched inflorescences. [4]

Habitat

The spiral aloe grows in high, mountainous, grassy slopes at altitudes between 2,000 and 2,599 m (6,560 and 8,530 ft), and sometimes higher on east-facing slopes. Here it clings to rocky crevices and well-drained scree slopes. The climate is cool in the summer and in the winter the aloes are often covered in deep snow. The region also has a very high summer rainfall and this moisture is augmented by the clouds which engulf the Lesotho mountain peaks. [4]

Conservation

The species is highly sought after as an ornamental but is difficult to cultivate and usually soon dies if removed from its natural habitat. In South Africa, it is a criminal offence to remove plants or seed of Aloe polyphylla from their natural habitat or to buy plants from roadside vendors. [4] The species is listed on Appendix I of CITES meaning commercial international trade is prohibited. [1]

In cultivation in the UK this plant has gained the Royal Horticultural Society's Award of Garden Merit. [5]

Related Research Articles

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

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<i>Kalmia angustifolia</i> Species of shrub

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<i>Rudbeckia triloba</i> Species of flowering plant

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<i>Phlox subulata</i> Species of flowering plant

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<i>Haemanthus albiflos</i> Species of flowering plant

Haemanthus albiflos is a species of flowering plant in the family Amaryllidaceae, native to the coast and mountains of South Africa. It is sometimes given the English name paintbrush, not to be confused with Castilleja species which also have this name. It is an evergreen bulbous perennial geophyte, prized horticulturally for its unusual appearance and extreme tolerance of neglect. H. albiflos is the only Haemanthus species found in both winter and summer rainfall regions, and has a mainly coastal distribution from the southern Cape through the Eastern Cape to KwaZulu-Natal, showing a preference for cool, shady spots.

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

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<i>Euryops pectinatus</i> Species of flowering plant

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<i>Erica cerinthoides</i> Species of flowering plant

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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>Aloiampelos</i> Genus of succulent flowering plants

Aloiampelos, formerly Aloe ser. Macrifoliae is a genus of succulent plants in the subfamily Asphodeloideae, comprising seven species found in Southern Africa. They are typically multi-branched climbing or sprawling shrubs, with long spindly stems and a large woody base on the ground. These characteristics, as well as their soft, narrow, triangular leaves whose lower part ensheathes the stem, make them easy to distinguish.

<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>Aloe brevifolia</i> Species of succulent

Aloe brevifolia, the short-leaved aloe, is a species of flowering plant in the family Asphodelaceae. It is a tiny, compact, blue-green evergreen succulent perennial, that is native to the Western Cape, South Africa. Listed as Endangered on SANBI's Red List, it is threatened in its natural habitat, but is also widely popular as an ornamental plant in rockeries and desert gardens worldwide.

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

Aloe bakeri is a species of flowering plant in the family Asphodelaceae, native to Madagascar, where it grows on rocky hills at low elevations. Growing to 10–20 cm (4–8 in) tall by 40 cm (16 in) wide, it is an evergreen perennial forming multiple rosettes of spidery succulent green or reddish-green toothed leaves, heavily mottled with white. The leaves are typically 10 cm long and bear straight or slightly curved white teeth that are 1 mm long and about 1-2 mm apart. In summer it produces red or orange, green-tipped tubular flowers. These flowers are attractive to birds, bees, and wasps, and are typically 2 cm long, borne on racemes 30 cm tall.

<i>Globularia cordifolia</i> Species of flowering plant

Globularia cordifolia, the heart-leaved globe daisy, is a species of flowering plant in the family Plantaginaceae, native to the mountains of central and southern Europe, and western Turkey.

References

  1. 1 2 "Appendices | CITES". cites.org. Retrieved 2022-01-14.
  2. Harrison, Lorraine (2012). RHS Latin for Gardeners. United Kingdom: Mitchell Beazley. ISBN   184533731X.
  3. Reynolds, G.W. 1950. The aloes of Southern Africa. Balkema, Cape Town.
  4. 1 2 3 Aubrey, Alice. "Aloe polyphylla Schonl. ex Pillans". PlantZAfrica.com. South African National Biodiversity Institute. Retrieved 26 November 2016.
  5. "RHS Plantfinder - Aloe polyphylla". Royal Horticultural Society. 2012. Retrieved 5 January 2018.