Aloe brunneodentata

Overview

Aloe brunneodentata is a usually solitary aloe endemic to southwestern Saudi Arabia. Its glaucous leaves bear brown marginal teeth, and both reddish and yellow flower colours are recorded. [1, 2, 3]

Classification and nomenclature

Accepted name: Aloe brunneodentata Lavranos & Collen. [1]
Protologue bibliography: Cact. Succ. J. (Los Angeles) 72: 86 (2000) [1, 2, 3]
Type locality and type material: East side of the track from Abha to Najran, Saudi Arabia, about 1,800 m. I. S. Collenette 5826, 15 April 1986; holotype K. [2, 3]

Etymology

The epithet brunneodentata refers to the conspicuous brown marginal teeth, from Latin brunneo (brown) and dentatus (toothed). [2, 4]

Key characteristics

Growth form

Plants are usually solitary and acaulescent, only rarely developing a short stem up to 10 cm. [2, 3]

Leaves

Leaves are lanceolate-acuminate, smooth and glaucous. The margins bear brown deltoid teeth. [2, 3]

Inflorescence and flowers

The inflorescence is an erect branched panicle; one or two are usually produced in succession. The perianth is cylindrical-trigonous, slightly pubescent and 24–26 mm long. Reddish-pink, dull red and yellow flowers are recorded. [2, 3]

Distribution

Endemic to a limited area of southwestern Saudi Arabia. [1, 2]

Habitat

It grows on rocky slopes at about 1,800 m, from sparsely vegetated granite to metamorphic rocks with Juniperus procera and other shrubs. [2, 3]

Main references

World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP).
McCoy, T. (2019). The Aloes of Arabia. McCoy Publishing, Temecula, California. pp. 14–16.
Carter, S., Lavranos, J.J., Newton, L.E. & Walker, C.C. (2011). Aloes: The Definitive Guide. Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew. pp. 258–259.
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. 24.

Updates

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