Aloe mccoyi

Overview

Aloe mccoyi is a local endemic of southern Yemen around Ra’s Fartaq. It is solitary, with long stems, thick widely spreading leaves and an ascending to erect inflorescence bearing cylindrical-trigonous flowers. [1, 2, 3]

Classification and nomenclature

Accepted name: Aloe mccoyi Lavranos & Mies [1]
Protologue bibliography: Cact. Succ. J. (Los Angeles) 73: 150 (2001). [2, 1]
Type locality and type material: Yemen, Al-Mahra Governorate, mountain slopes ending in the promontory of Ra’s Fartaq above Kadifut; collected 16 November 2000; McCoy 2359; holotype MO. [2]

Etymology

The epithet mccoyi honours Thomas Armour McCoy, recorded as the scientific discoverer of the species. [2, 4]

Key characteristics

Growth form

Solitary, with stems reaching 200 cm. Rosettes are upturned or may lie on their sides as the stems extend downslope. [2, 3]

Leaves

Leaves are widely spreading and may curve downward; they are described as lanceolate-deltoid or broadly triangular, 30–40 cm long, about 12 cm wide at the base and 4 cm thick. Colour is recorded as bluish-grey to grey-green or uniformly grey to bluish-green. A heavy waxy-pruinose coating is present and is sticky on the youngest leaves. [2, 3]

Leaf surface and margin

The margin is cartilaginous and recorded as pinkish-brown or pinkish. It is described as entire, with another record noting occasional one or two teeth near the tip. [2, 3]

Inflorescence and flowers

The inflorescence is ascending to erect, about 40–50 cm high, with one or two branches; two branches are recorded as most frequent. Racemes are cylindrical-conical and laxly flowered. The cylindrical-trigonous perianth is 25–33 mm long; colour is recorded as light pink to coral-red and, separately, red to rose-pink. [2, 3]

Distribution

It is recorded from the far eastern part of southern Yemen, around Ra’s Fartaq in Al-Mahra Governorate, as a local endemic. At the time covered by the regional record, only the type locality was known, and endemism to the Fartaq Mountains was considered probable. [1, 2, 3]

Habitat

It grows on steep rocky slopes and at the edges of limestone cliffs at about 350–500 m. Summer-monsoon moisture, including low cloud, fog and drizzle, is an important part of its habitat conditions. [2]

Main references

World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP).
McCoy, T. (2019). The Aloes of Arabia. McCoy Publishing, Temecula, California. pp. 71–75.
Carter, S., Lavranos, J.J., Newton, L.E. & Walker, C.C. (2011). Aloes: The Definitive Guide. Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew. p. 504.
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. 99.

Updates

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