Aloe yemenica

Overview

Aloe yemenica J.R.I.Wood is a cliff-dwelling aloe whose stems are initially erect and later become procumbent or pendent. The leaves are yellow-green and the perianth is red or yellow, 22 mm long. [1, 2]

Key characteristics

Growth form

An obligate cliff-dweller that forms clumps or suckers; stems are initially erect and later become procumbent or pendent. [1, 2]

Leaves

Leaves are 35–40 cm long and yellow-green; young plants are spotted, with spotting disappearing as plants mature. [1, 2]

Inflorescence and flowers

Inflorescences are arcuate-ascending and racemes are laxly flowered. The perianth is red or yellow and 22 mm long. [1, 2]

Distribution

Distribution treatments differ. Current WCVP records Saudi Arabia and Yemen, whereas McCoy (2019) treats the species as endemic to Yemen and Carter et al. (2011) record it from mountains and gorges of the western Yemeni Escarpment. [3, 1, 2]

Habitat

It grows on steep rock walls and cliffs. McCoy (2019) describes it as confined to cliff faces of fine-grained metamorphic or volcanic rock. [1, 2]

Etymology

The specific epithet yemenica refers to the occurrence of the species in Yemen. [4, 1]

Classification and nomenclature

Accepted name: Aloe yemenica J.R.I.Wood [3]
Protologue bibliography: Published in Kew Bulletin 38: 20 (1983). [3, 1]
Type locality and type material: The type material is Wood 2537 (K), collected below Rahban, Mahwit, Yemen, at about 1,600 m. Published sources give differing latitude values, so an exact latitude cannot be established. [1, 2]

Main references

McCoy, T. (2019). The Aloes of Arabia. McCoy Publishing, Temecula, California.
Carter, S., Lavranos, J.J., Newton, L.E. & Walker, C.C. (2011). Aloes: The Definitive Guide. Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew. p. 500.
World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP).
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. 167.

Updates

Classification, distribution and descriptive information are revised as new sources are verified or taxonomic treatments change.