Aloe haggeherensis

Overview

Aloe haggeherensis is endemic to exposed granitic sites in the Haggeher Mountains of central Socotra, Yemen. Plants are solitary or occasionally form two or three rosettes, with bright green recurved leaves and an erect branched inflorescence bearing orange-red flowers. [1, 2, 3]

Classification and nomenclature

Accepted name: Aloe haggeherensis T.A.McCoy & Lavranos [3]
Protologue bibliography: Kakteen und Andere Sukkulenten (Berlin) 58(11): 297 (2007). [1, 2, 3]
Type locality and type material: The type locality is given as Socotra Island, Adho Damalu Pass below the summits of the Haggeher Mountains, 950 m, April 1967, Lavranos s.n., holotype FT, with material cultivated in Pretoria (McCoy 2019). Carter et al. (2011) give Socotra Summit and the upper southern slopes of Adho Dhmalu (Aduna) Pass. [1, 2]

Etymology

The epithet haggeherensis refers to the Haggeher Mountains of Socotra; -ensis indicates a place of origin. [1, 4]

Key characteristics

Growth form

Plants are solitary or occasionally form two or three rosettes. [1, 2]

Leaves

Leaves are rosulate, lanceolate-attenuate and spreading-recurved to ascending; the upper surface is described as vibrant or bright green, unspotted and smooth. [1, 2]

Leaf surface and margin

The lower surface is convex and the same colour as the upper. Brown deltoid teeth are 3 mm long with reddish tips; spacing is recorded as 4–7 mm by McCoy (2019) and 3 mm by Carter et al. (2011). [1, 2]

Inflorescence and flowers

The erect branched panicle reaches 70 cm and bears up to five racemes. Racemes are cylindrical or conical and lax to sublax; the orange-red perianth is 25 mm long with a yellow mouth. [1, 2]

Distribution

Endemic to Socotra Island, Yemen, where it is confined to exposed rocky sites in the Haggeher Mountains in the central part of the island. [1, 2, 3]

Habitat

It grows on granite at about 950 m in sparsely covered evergreen forest; Dracaena cinnabari and Punica protopunica are recorded in the same habitat. [1, 2]

Main references

McCoy, T. (2019). The Aloes of Arabia. McCoy Publishing, Temecula, California. pp. 41–45.
Carter, S., Lavranos, J.J., Newton, L.E. & Walker, C.C. (2011). Aloes: The Definitive Guide. Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew. pp. 328–329.
Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew. Plants of the World Online: Aloe haggeherensis T.A.McCoy & Lavranos (accessed 2026-09-25). Source
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. 68.

Updates

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