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 thorncroftii [family ALOACEAE]
Information
Plants stemless or short-stemmed, 250-500 mm tall excluding inflorescence. Leaves rosu-late, 300^100 x 100-140 mm, bluish grey to purplish grey. Inflorescence a simple raceme, 0.8-1.0 m tall, 2-4 per plant; bracts ovate, 15-25 x 6-11 mm, many-nerved. Flowers brilÂliant pink, 40-55 mm long; outer segments conÂnate for at least half their length, inner segments free but adnate to outer for ± two thirds of their length; pedicels 15-25 mm long, lengthening in fruit. Anthers not or hardly exserted. Ovary 9.0-12.0 x 2.0-3.5 mm; style exserted 1-2 mm. Fruit ± 20-25 x 10 mm. Flowering time SepÂtember to October. Figure 11.
Habitat
The leaves of seedling plants are rough with small tubercles, but these gradually disappear as plants mature. The flowers are among the largest and most striking in the genus. The dark green, red-tinted colour of the leaves is also diagnostic in the field.
Use
65. Aloe thorncroftii Pole Evans in Transactions of the Royal Society of South Africa 5: 709 (1917); Reynolds: 116 (1940b); Reynolds: 304 (1950); Jeppe: 9 (1969); Born-man & D.S.Hardy: 159 (1972); Glen & D.S.HarÂdy: t. 1936 (1986); Glen & G.F.Sm.: 41 (1995); B.-E. van Wyk & G.F.Sm.: 166 (1996). Type: Mpumalanga, Barberton, Thorncwft PRE247 (PRE!).
Range
Endemic to Mpumalanga and confined to the Barberton serpentines. Map 47.
