Aloe elata

Overview

Aloe elata is distributed from southern Kenya to northern Tanzania and is described by Carter et al. (2011) as a usually solitary tree on rocky slopes along the western wall of the Rift Valley Escarpment. It bears dark greyish-green leaves in dense rosettes, and the perianth is scarlet in bud and yellow at maturity. [1] [2]

Key characteristics

Growth form

WCVP records a succulent shrub or tree, while Carter et al. (2011) describe a usually solitary tree with a naked stem reaching 6 m or more and 12 cm in diameter. [1] [2]

Leaves

Leaves form a dense rosette, are suberect before becoming strongly recurved, narrowly lanceolate, up to 100 × 10 cm, and dark greyish-green. [2]

Inflorescence

The inflorescence is suberect, up to 65 cm long, and has up to 9 spreading branches; the lower branches rebranch, and the racemes are cylindrical and laxly flowered. [2]

Flowers

The perianth is 30–32 mm long, scarlet in bud and yellow at maturity. [2]

Distribution

WCVP records Kenya and Tanzania and gives the geographic range as southern Kenya to northern Tanzania. Carter et al. (2011) record the species from northern Tanzania and south-western Kenya along the western wall of the Rift Valley Escarpment. [1] [2]

Habitat

Carter et al. (2011) record rocky slopes with dense deciduous bushland at 1,065–1,500 m. WCVP classifies the climate as seasonally dry tropical. [1] [2]

Ecology and conservation

Toxicity and constituents

Carter et al. (2011) describe the leaf sap of Aloe elata as poisonous. [2]

Classification and nomenclature

Accepted name: Aloe elata S.Carter & L.E.Newton [1]
Classification and nomenclature: Accepted at species rank and published in Fl. Trop. E. Africa, Aloaceae: 56 (1994). [1] [2]

Compared taxon: Aloe ballyi

Etymology

The epithet elata refers to the tall stems and derives from Latin elatus, meaning tall. [3]

References

World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP).
Carter, S., Lavranos, J.J., Newton, L.E. & Walker, C.C. (2011). Aloes: The Definitive Guide. Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew. p. 686.
Grace, O.M., Klopper, R.R., Figueiredo, E. & Smith, G.F. (2011). The Aloe Names Book. Strelitzia 28. South African National Biodiversity Institute, Pretoria. p. 53.