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 vanbalenii [family ALOACEAE]
Information
Plants almost stemless, 300-600 mm tall, in dense groups. Leaves many per rosette, 500-800 x 90-150 mm, deeply channelled, green to copper-red. Inflorescence a 2- or 3-branched dense, cylindric-conical raceme ± 1 m tall; peduncle without sterile bracts below first branch; bracts ovate-obtuse, 15-17 x 6-7 mm, 7-many-nerved. Flowers orange-yellow, dull red or bicoloured, 30-40 mm long; pedicels 14-23 mm long, lengthening to 25-30 mm in fruit. Anthers exserted 1-10 mm. Ovary ±5x2 mm; style exserted 9-12 mm. Fruit not seen. Flowering time June to July.
Habitat
The almost stemless, suckering habit and broad, deeply channelled (U-shaped in section), recurved leaves of this species distinguish it from all others of this section. The leaves resemble those of A. alooides (no. 101), but that species is caulescent and has much smaller, sesÂsile flowers.
Use
94. Aloe vanbalenii Pillans in South African Gardening and Country Life 24: 25 (1934b); Pole Evans: t. 608 (1936i); Reynolds: 420 (1950); Jeppe: 104 (1969); Bornman & D.S.Hardy: 229 (1972); Compton: 102 (1976); B.-E. van Wyk & G.F.Sm.: 90 (1996). Type: KwaZulu-Natal, near Mahlabathini, J.C. van Balen NBG2778/29 (BOL!).
Range
Aloe vanbalenii grows on flat rocks and rocky outcrops with minimal amounts of soil in Acocks's (1988) Nkonkoni Veld and Zululand Thornveld in Swaziland and KwaZulu-Natal. This area is frost-free and has moderately high summer rainfall. Map 67.
