Entry From
FZ, Vol 12, Part 3, page 48, (2001) Author: S. Kativu
Names
Aloe christianii Reynolds [family ALOACEAE], in J. S. African Bot. 2: 171 (1936); Aloes S. Africa: 309 (1950); Aloes Nyasaland: 28 (1954); Aloes Trop. Africa & Madagascar: 186 (1966). —Hutchinson, Botanist S. Afr.: 488 (1946). —Brenan et al. in Mem. New York Bot. Gard. 9: 90 (1954). —Jacobsen in Kirkia 9: 151 (1973). —West, Aloes Rhodesia: 68, pl. 19a & b (1974); Aloes Zimbabwe, rev. Kimberley: 76 (1992). —Court, Succ. Fl. South. Africa: 125 (1981). —Carter in F.T.E.A., Aloaceae: 21, fig. 5, 4–8, pl. 2 (1994). TAB. 12.3.18, fig. B. Type: Zimbabwe, Ewanrigg, 40 km east of Harare, fl. v.–vi.1936, Reynolds 1885 (PRE, holotype; K; SRGH).
Distribution
Zambia E 48 km southwest of Petauke, fl. 31.v.1961, Leach & Rutherford-Smith 11090 (K; SRGH).Zambia S 37 km northeast of Choma, fl. 11.vii.1930, Hutchinson & Gillett 3550 (K).Zimbabwe W Hwange Distr., near stream south of Victoria Falls, fl. 9.vii.1930, Hutchinson & Gillett 3491 (K).Zimbabwe C Goromonzi Distr., Ewanrigg, fl. 21.v.1952, Wild 3835 (K; SRGH).Malawi C 29 km southeast of Dedza, fl. 20.vii.1952, Reynolds 6691 (K; PRE).Malawi S 16 km east of Mpatamanga Gorge, 1.v.1960, Leach & Brunton 9884 (K; LISC; SRGH).Mozambique T Moatize Distr., 16 km south of Malawi border (at Mwanza), fl. 3.vi.1938, Pole Evans & Erens 528 (K; PRE).Zambia N 3 km north of Kasama, fl. 23.vii.1958, Reynolds 8968 (K; PRE; SRGH).Zimbabwe N Murehwa Distr., 6.5 km northeast of Murehwa (Mrewa) Village, fl. vi.1956, Leach 99 (K; SRGH).Malawi N 99 km north of Rumphi, fl. 29.vii.1960, Leach & Brunton 10354 (K; SRGH).Mozambique N near Ribáuè, fl. 24.vii.1962, Leach & Schelpe 11442 (K; LISC; SRGH).Zambia W Mwinilunga Distr., Lisombo R., fl. 10.vi.1963, Loveridge 913 (K; SRGH).Zambia C Mkushi Distr., 56 km east of Kapiri Mposhi, fl. 14.vi.1960, Leach & Brunton 10021 (K; LISC; SRGH).
Notes
Milne-Redhead 2644a and Reynolds 9174, both from Zambia (W), Kalenda Dambo west of Matonchi Farm, are possibly representative of a hybrid between A. christianii and A. bulbicaulis. They have the habit, the leaf marginal teeth, and perianth-shape of the former, with perianth colour, bract-shape and very stout peduncles and pedicels of the latter. Reynolds (in J. S. African Bot. 27: 8 (1961) and Aloes Trop. Africa & Madagascar: 184 (1966) and Court, Succ. Fl. South. Africa: 127 (1981)) identified these specimens as the yellowish-flowered A. crassipes Baker from southeast Sudan, but apart from the geographical discrepancy, the type of this species, with its long bracts and stipitate ovaries, is more closely allied to, and perhaps identifiable with A. buettneri A. Berger from West Africa.Hybridisation with A. cameronii is known to occur near the Chibakwe R. (Zimbabwe, fl. v.1955, Leach 122 (SRGH)).