Gonialoe variegata

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Gonialoe variegata
Aloe variegata.jpg
Gonialoe variegata in cultivation.
Scientific classification Red Pencil Icon.png
Kingdom: Plantae
Clade: Tracheophytes
Clade: Angiosperms
Clade: Monocots
Order: Asparagales
Family: Asphodelaceae
Subfamily: Asphodeloideae
Genus: Gonialoe
Species:
G. variegata
Binomial name
Gonialoe variegata
(L.) Boatwr. & J.C.Manning
Synonyms

Aloe variegataL.

Gonialoe variegata (syn. Aloe 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.

Contents

Description

Plants grow to around 20–30 cm, with 18–24 leaves arranged in three ranks. New leaves appear individually over time from the centre of the plant, flattening older leaves and pushing them outward in a spiral fashion. Each leaf is a rich green colour with irregular light green banding made up of amalgamated, slightly raised oval spots, and similarly light coloured fine serrations along each edge. In mature plants the outer, and thus oldest, leaves are 10–15 cm long and approximately 3–6 cm broad at the base. Depending on trauma, space, water availability or even old age, outer leaves will die off, turning golden brown and shriveling away.

Plants reach maturity in three to seven years, again largely dependent on the space, sunlight and water available, at which point they will begin to send out racemes of flowers. Flowers develop in a cluster at the head of the raceme and are spaced out by its rapid growth.

1801 plate depicting Gonialoe variegata Aloe variegata00.jpg
1801 plate depicting Gonialoe variegata

The flowers are orange, arranged in a raceme of around 20–30 cm in height. In its natural habitat in southern Africa, flowers are produced from July to September, with offsets being readily formed.

Cultivation

In temperate regions it can be grown outdoors during the summer months. However it does not tolerate cold below 5 °C (41 °F) or wet conditions, and requires the protection of glass in winter. In cultivation in the UK this plant gained the Royal Horticultural Society’s Award of Garden Merit in 1993. [1]

Taxonomy

G. variegata was formerly part of the Serrulatae series of very closely related Aloe species, together with Aloe dinteri and Aloe sladeniana . Recent phylogenetic studies have shown these three species to possibly constitute an entirely separate genus, with the name Gonialoe . While this species looks rather similar to its two sister species, it can easily be distinguished from them by its shorter, stouter inflorescence with larger pink flowers. [2] [3]

Distribution and habitat

Gonialoe variegata distribution, in yellow. 1 Gonialoe species - Aloe variegata sladeniana dinteri distribution map.png
Gonialoe variegata distribution, in yellow.

The tiger aloe is indigenous to the arid Karoo region of southern Africa. In South Africa, it is found in the dry areas of the Western Cape, Eastern Cape, Northern Cape and Free State. It generally grows in rocky terrain and outcrops where they may grow between boulders, but may also grow in soils with sharp drainage, such as sandy soils. It is usually found in the semi-shade shelter of either rock crevices or shrubs, which provide some protection from the sun. [4]

This species predominates in winter-rainfall areas. To the north, as the climate gradually changes to a summer rainfall one, this species is replaced by its sister species Gonialoe sladeniana (in the intermediate rainfall region) which then gradually makes way for Gonialoe dinteri in the summer rainfall areas of far northern Namibia. [5]

History

The first record of this species was an account in the diary of Simon van der Stel (the first Governor of the Cape), when he travelled in 1685 to Namaqualand in the Northern Cape. In addition, this was one of the species cultivated in the Dutch East India Company's garden in Cape Town in 1695. [6]

Ecology

Since Aloe flowers are usually reddish in colour, sunbirds are attracted to them for the nectar they produce, and are likely the plant's main pollinators. Other creatures which visit flowers are usually insects such as bees, wasps, beetles and ants. [7]

Related Research Articles

<i>Aristaloe</i> Monotypic genus of flowering perennial plant from southern Africa

Aristaloe is a genus of evergreen flowering perennial plants in the family Asphodelaceae from Southern Africa. Its sole species is Aristaloe aristata, known as guinea-fowl aloe or lace aloe.

<i>Haworthia</i> Genus of flowering plants In family Asphodelaceae

Haworthia is a large genus of small succulent plants endemic to Southern Africa (Mozambique, Namibia, Lesotho, Eswatini and South Africa).

<i>Aloidendron dichotomum</i> Species of tree

Aloidendron dichotomum, formerly Aloe dichotoma, the quiver tree or kokerboom, is a tall, branching species of succulent plant, indigenous to Southern Africa, specifically in the Northern Cape region of South Africa, and parts of Southern Namibia.

<i>Gasteria</i> Genus of succulent flowering plants from South Africa

Gasteria is a genus of succulent plants, native to South Africa.

<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>Gonialoe dinteri</i> species of plant in the family Asphodelaceae

Gonialoe dinteri, the Namibian partridge aloe, is a species of flowering plant in the Asphodelaceae family. It is native to arid areas of Angola and Namibia.

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

Gonialoe sladeniana is a species of plant in the genus Gonialoe. It is endemic to arid areas of central Namibia.

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

Aloe ferox, commonly known as bitter aloe, is a species of flowering plant in the family Asphodelaceae. This woody aloe is indigenous to southern Africa. It is one of several Aloe species used to make bitter aloes, a purgative medication, and also yields a non-bitter gel that can be used in cosmetics.

<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 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 Vulnerable on IUCN's global Red List, it is threatened in its natural habitat, but is also widely popular as an ornamental plant in rockeries and desert gardens worldwide. As it requires winter heat, in temperate regions it is grown under glass or as a houseplant.

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

Aloe arenicola is a spotted creeping aloe, indigenous to the arid west coast of South Africa.

<i>Cleretum bellidiforme</i> Species of flowering plant

Cleretum bellidiforme, commonly called Livingstone daisy, Bokbaaivygie (Afrikaans), or Buck Bay vygie, is a species of flowering plant in the family Aizoaceae, native to the Cape Peninsula in South Africa. It is a low-growing succulent annual growing to 25 cm (10 in), and cultivated for its iridescent, many-petalled, daisy-like blooms in shades of white, yellow, orange, cream, pink and crimson. In temperate areas it is popularly grown as a half-hardy annual, and lends itself to mass plantings or as edging plants in summer bedding schemes in parks and gardens. It is still widely referenced under its former names, Mesembryanthemum criniflorum and Dorotheanthus bellidiformis.

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

Aloe pluridens is an arborescent aloe indigenous to southern Africa.

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

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

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

Orbea variegata is a species of flowering plant in the family Apocynaceae, known as the star flower. It is native to the coastal belt of the Western Cape, South Africa, growing actively during the winter rainfall season. It is an invasive species in southern Australia.

<i>Gonialoe</i> Genus of succulent flowering plants from southern Africa

Gonialoe is a small genus of three succulent plant species, indigenous to South Africa, Namibia and Angola. They were formerly included within the related genus Aloe. The three species are Gonialoe variegata, Gonialoe sladeniana, Gonialoe dinteri.

Aloeae Tribe of succulent plants

Aloeae is a tribe of succulent plants in the subfamily Asphodeloideae of the family Asphodelaceae, consisting of the aloes and their close relatives. The taxon may also be treated as the subfamily Alooideae by those botanists who retain the narrower circumscription of Asphodelaceae adopted prior to the APG III system. Typically, plants have rosettes of more or less succulent leaves, with or without a distinct stem. Their flowers are arranged in racemes and tend to be either small and pale, pollinated by insects, or larger and more brightly coloured, pollinated by birds. As of 2017, 11 genera are recognized, most created since 2010 by splitting off another five genera from Aloe and another two from Haworthia. Only two genera, Aloe and Aloidendron, are native outside southern Africa, extending northwards to the Arabian Peninsula. Seven genera are restricted to South Africa, some with small ranges. Members of the Aloeae are cultivated by succulent plant enthusiasts; Aloe species especially are used in temperate climates as ornamental garden plants. Some species are used in traditional medicine. Aloe vera and Aloe ferox are cultivated for their extracts, whose uses include moisturizers and emollients in cosmetics.

References

  1. "Aloe variegata". Royal Horticultural Society. Retrieved 5 January 2018.
  2. "The Aloe Page - Aloaceae". succulent-plant.com.
  3. Reynolds, G. W. 1950. The aloes of Southern Africa. Balkema, Cape Town.
  4. "Gonialoe variegata". PlantZAfrica.com. Retrieved 2017-09-15.
  5. CJB, CJB, DSIC, Cyrille Chatelain -. "CJB - African plant database - Detail". www.ville-ge.ch.
  6. Van Wyk, B-E. & Smith, G.F. (1996) Guide to aloes of South Africa Briza Publications, Pretoria.
  7. Leistner, O.A. (2005) Seed plants of southern tropical Africa Southern African Botanical Diversity Network Report No. 26.