Aloe abyssicola

Overview

Aloe abyssicola Lavranos & Bilaidi is a solitary pendent aloe restricted to the vertical cliffs of Jabal Al-Arays in southern Yemen. Its rosettes face down the cliff wall; the leaves reach 50 cm and the inflorescences reach 60 cm. [1, 2]

Key characteristics

Growth form

A pendent cliff-dwelling aloe with downward-facing, inverted rosettes. Stems are short, up to 30 cm, and pendent from cliff faces. [1, 2]

Leaves

Leaves are ensiform, up to 50 cm long and 12 cm wide at the base, glaucous, and spotted when very young. [1, 2]

Inflorescence and flowers

The inflorescence is a branched panicle up to 60 cm long, initially pendent, with ascending branches. The perianth is 25 mm long. [1, 2]

Distribution

Known only from Jabal Al-Arays in southern to southwestern Yemen. [3, 1, 2]

Habitat

It grows from crevices on vertical basalt cliffs at about 900 m on Jabal Al-Arays. [1, 2]

Etymology

The epithet abyssicola derives from Latin abyssus (“abyss”) and -cola (“dwelling”), alluding to the species’ occurrence on vertical cliffs. [1, 2, 4]

Classification and nomenclature

Accepted name: Aloe abyssicola Lavranos & Bilaidi [3]
Protologue bibliography: Published in Cactus and Succulent Journal (Los Angeles) 43: 206 (1971). [3]
Type locality and type material: The type collection is Lavranos & Bilaidi 7490, collected on Jabal Al-Arays on 31 December 1969. McCoy (2019) identifies FI as the holotype, while Carter et al. (2011) cite a K specimen of the same collection. [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.
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.

Updates

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