Compilation
Aloe parvibracteata

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Name

Identification
Aloe burgersfortensis Reynolds [family ASPHODELACEAE ] Verified by Not on sheet, Aloe parvibracteata Schoenland [family ASPHODELACEAE ] (stored under name); Verified by Hardy&Glen, 1986
Related name
  • Aloe parvibracteata
  • Aloe lusitanica
  • Aloe burgersfortensis
  • Aloe keithii
  • Aloe pongolensis

Flora

Entry for Aloe parvibracteata [family ALOACEAE]
Herbarium
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 parvibracteata [family ALOACEAE]
Common names
A. burgersfortensis Reynolds: 31 (19361); Reynolds: 274 (1950); Jeppe: 90 (1969); Bornman & D.S.Hardy: 139 (1972); B.-E. van Wyk & G.F.Sm.: 186 (1996). Type: Mpumalanga, Lydenburg District, Reynolds 1465 (PRE, holo.!; BOL!). A. pongolensis Reynolds: t. 603 (1936h); Reynolds: 45 (1937a). Type: KwaZulu-Natal, near Pongola, Reynolds 1101 (PRE!). A. pongolensis Reynolds var. zuluensis Reynolds: 46 (1937a). A. parvibracteata Schonland var. zuluensis (Reynolds) Reynolds: 278 (1950); Jeppe: 71 (1969); Bornman & D.S.Hardy: 141 (1972). Type: KwaZulu-Natal, White Umfolozi Valley, Reynolds 2017 (PRE). A. keithii Reynolds: 47 (1937a); Reynolds: 278 (1950); Jeppe: 72 (1969); Bornman & D.S.Hardy: 143 (1972); Compton: 100 (1976). Type: Swaziland, south of Siteki, Reynolds 1983 (PRE, nolo.!; SRGH!). A. lusitanica Groenew.: 13 (1937b); Glen, G.F.Sm. & D.S.Hardy: 98 (1995). Lectotype: Mozambique, Maputo, EZ. van der Merwe PRE24087 (PRE!).
Information
Plants stemless or very short-stemmed, 200-400 mm tall excluding inflorescence, suck-ering freely to form large, dense groups. Leaves 10-15 per rosette, spreading to decurved, 300-500 x 30-80 mm, slightly channelled, upper surface with many whitish spots in irregular transverse bands, lower surface usually un­spotted. Inflorescence with 4-9 ultimate branch­es, 1.0-1.5 m tall; racemes cylindric, sublax; bracts deltoid-cirrhous, ± 9—12 x 3 mm, 5-7-nerved. Flowers dull red, 24-33 mm long, mouth downtumed; outer segments free for 8-10 mm, inner segments dorsally adnate to outer; pedicels 7-17 mm long. Anthers exserted 1-2 mm. Ovary 7.0-10.0 x 2.5-3.5 mm, green; style exserted 1-2 mm. Fruit 20-23 x 11-13 mm, purplish brown. Flowering time June to July.
Habitat
In this species the leaf sap usually dries purplish violet, but exceptional specimens with sap drying golden yellow are known. Differences between this species and its close allies A. greatheadii (no. 46) and A. greenii (no. 49) are discussed under those species. A. parvibractea­ta is most usefully separated from A. zebrina (no. 56) by the flowering season (winter—July, not autumn—March) and the leaf sap drying purple not yellow, but both of these characters are known to break down. This species is part of a complex that requires detailed investigation. Although the typical form of this species has bracts that are unusually small for a maculate aloe (hence the name), plants more commonly have long, narrow bracts.
Use
54. Aloe parvibracteata Schonland in Records of the Albany Museum 2: 139 (1907); A.Berger: 330 (1908); Reynolds: 276 (1950); Jeppe: 71 (1969); Bornman & D.S.Hardy: 141 (1972); West: 52 (1974); Compton: 101 (1976); B.-E. van Wyk & G.F.Sm.: 212 (1996). Type: Mozambique, Maputo, BurttDavy 2853 (GRA!).
Range
Found in the Northern Province, Mpumalanga, Swaziland, and KwaZulu-Natal; also in Mozambique and Zimbabwe. The typical habi­tat of A. parvibracteata is hot, thorny lowveld, and in similar thorny woodland in the Lebombo Mountains. It has no specific requirements for soil, being found to grow equally well on heavy clay and in cracks in rock. Map 40.

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