South African National Biodiversity Institute, Compton Herbarium, Cape Town (SAM)
Collection
Flora of Southern Africa
Resource Type
Reference Sources
Entry From
Flora of South Africa, (2003) Author: Dr J.P. Roux
Names
Aloe dewetii [family ALOACEAE]
Information
Plants solitary, stemless, 500-800 mm tall excluding inflorescence. Leaves ± 20, suberect to spreading, 360-500 x 70-130 mm, slightly channelled, often narrowing slightly near base, upper surface with many whitish spots irregularÂly arranged or in wavy transverse bands, lower surface without spots, with obscure lines. Inflorescence with 20-40 ultimate branches, up to 2 m tall; racemes cylindric, lax; bracts del-toid-cirrhous, often rolled or twisted, 17-25 x 2.5-4.0 mm, 7-many-nerved. Flowers dull greyish red with bloom, 31^42 mm long, sub-clavate above basal constriction; outer segments free for 4-6 mm, inner segments dorsally adnate to outer; pedicels 8-15 mm long, lengthening slightly in fruit. Anthers exserted up to 3 mm. Ovary 5.0-10.0 x 2.5^1.0 mm, green; style exserted up to 3 mm. Fruit 20-30 x 11-16 mm, buff. Flowering time February to March.
Habitat
The very shiny leaf surfaces distinguish this species from other maculates. The teeth on the leaf margins and the basal swellings of the flowers are the largest in the section. The infloÂrescence is the tallest in the section.
Use
53. Aloe dewetii Reynolds in Journal of South African Botany 3: 139 (1937c); Reynolds: t. 692 (1938c); Reynolds: 266 (1950); Jeppe: 77 (1969); Bornman & D.S.Hardy: 129 (1972); Compton: 99 (1976); B.-E. van Wyk & G.F.Sm.: 188 (1996). Type: KwaZulu-Natal, Mkuzi Valley, Reynolds 2319 (PRE, holo.!; BOL!).
