Aloidendron tongaense

Aloidendron tongaense
Scientific classification
Kingdom:	Plantae
Clade:	Tracheophytes
Clade:	Angiosperms
Clade:	Monocots
Order:	Asparagales
Family:	Asphodelaceae
Subfamily:	Asphodeloideae
Tribe:	Aloeae
Genus:	Aloidendron
Species:	A. tongaense
Binomial name
Aloidendron tongaense (van Jaarsv.) Klopper & Gideon F.Sm. [1]
The distribution of Aloidendron tongaense (dark green) in southern Africa
Synonyms [1]
Aloe tongaensisvan Jaarsv.

Aloidendron tongaense, formerly Aloe tongaensis, is a species of plant in the genus Aloidendron , native to sandy tropical coastal forests in KwaZulu-Natal, at the border between Mozambique and South Africa, and Mozambique. ^[2]

Description

It grows as a massive, branching tree, almost as tall as its larger and more widespread relative, the giant tree aloe Aloidendron barberae . It looks similar to A. barberae, however its leaves are slightly more yellow, and it produces bright red flowers. ^{[3] [4] [5] [6]}

Flowers

Orange flowers on a branched inflorescence that has a short raceme that are curved down. Tubular like all Aloidendron flowers.

Gallery

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  Small plant in cultivation
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References

1. "Aloidendron tongaense". World Checklist of Selected Plant Families . Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew . Retrieved 2017-10-16.
2. "Aloidendron tongaense (van Jaarsv.) Klopper & Gideon F.Sm. | Plants of the World Online | Kew Science". Plants of the World Online. Retrieved 2023-08-01.
3. Ernst van Jaarsveld and Eric Judd (2016). Tree aloes of Africa. ISBN   978-0-620-64126-5
4. Van Jaarsveld, EJ 2010. Aloe tongaensis, a new species from Tongaland KwaZulu-Natal (South Africa), and a new sectional arrangement of the tree aloes. 47 3:4–11.
5. Reynolds, GW 1950. The Aloes of South Africa. Trustees of the Aloes of South Africa Book Fund. Johannesburg, South Africa.
6. Reynolds, GW 1966. The aloes of tropical Africa and Madagascar. Trustees of the Aloes of South Africa Book Fund. Mbabane, Swaziland.