Aloe sect. Lomatophyllum

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Aloe sect. Lomatophyllum
Lomatophyllum tormentorii - Mazambron - Ile aux Aigrettes.jpg
Aloe tormentorii , a "Lomatophyllum" aloe from Mauritius
Scientific classification OOjs UI icon edit-ltr.svg
Kingdom: Plantae
Clade: Tracheophytes
Clade: Angiosperms
Clade: Monocots
Order: Asparagales
Family: Asphodelaceae
Subfamily: Asphodeloideae
Genus: Aloe
Section: Aloe sect. Lomatophyllum
G.D.Rowley
Species

See text

Synonyms

LomatophyllumWilld.

Aloe sect. Lomatophyllum is a taxonomic section within the genus Aloe , comprising species of Aloe from Madagascar and the Mascareigne islands. It has been treated as a separate genus, Lomatophyllum. These species are distinguished by having fleshy berries of unwinged seeds (unlike the other Aloe species which bear dehiscent capsules of winged seeds). [1] [2] A 2018 study suggested that the section was paraphyletic and that fleshy berries were a derived characteristic.

Contents

Description

The aloes of this section are all shrubby and form short stems, topped with succulent lanceolate leaves. The flowers appear in racemes and range in colour from orange or yellow to red. The plants produce fleshy berries which contain the seeds.

Taxonomy

Species placed in Aloe sect. Lomatophyllum were previously placed in a separate genus, Lomatophyllum. They were later included in Aloe based on morphology, cytology and differences in their chemistry. A molecular phylogenetic study in 2018 suggested that the section was paraphyletic. Fleshy fruits, used to characterize the section, have been shown to be an evolutionary adaptation to shady forest habitats, and are likely to be a derived trait rather than a synapomorphy. [2]

Species

Species that have formerly been placed in Lomatophyllum according to Plants of the World Online as of September 2025, [3] or are placed in the section by other sources, include:

Distribution

The species that have been placed in this section are all located on the islands of the Indian Ocean. Most are restricted to the island of Madagascar. A minority are indigenous to the smaller islands of Reunion, Mauritius, Rodrigues, Aldabra and Pemba. They likely radiated from Madagascar following the major ocean currents. Most of the species of the smaller Indian Ocean islands grow on beaches or very near to the coast. In some parts of their distribution, they are locally known as "mazambrons". [8]

References

  1. ↑ U.Eggli: Illustrated Handbook of Succulent Plants: Monocotyledons. Springer Science & Business Media. 2001.
  2. 1 2 Dee, Richard; Malakasi, Panagiota; Rakotoarisoa, Solofo E. & Grace, Olwen M. (2018). "A phylogenetic analysis of the genus Aloe (Asphodelaceae) in Madagascar and the Mascarene Islands". Botanical Journal of the Linnean Society. 187 (3): 428–444. doi:10.1093/botlinnean/boy026.
  3. ↑ "Search for 'Lomatophyllum'". Plants of the World Online. Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew. Retrieved 2025-09-16.
  4. 1 2 3 Castillon, Jean-Bernard (2007). "A new species of Aloe (Asphodelaceae) from northernmost Madagascar". CactusWorld. 25 (1): 12–14. ISSN   1751-1429. JSTOR   42794845.
  5. 1 2 3 Letsara, Rokiman (2012). "Three new species of Aloe from Madagascar". Malagasy Nature. 6: 46–55.
  6. ↑ Rauh, Werner (October 1998). "Three new species of Lomatophyllum and one new Aloe from Madagascar". Bradleya. 1998 (16): 92–100. doi:10.25223/brad.n16.1998.a12. ISSN   0265-086X. Archived from the original on 2023-09-30.
  7. ↑ "Aloe sakarahensis". BCSS.
  8. ↑ Wessel Marais : The extra-Madagascan species of Lomatophyllum (Liliaceae). In: Kew Bulletin. Band 29, Nummer 4, 1974.
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