Aloe calliantha

Overview

Aloe calliantha is restricted to the northern Great Arabian Escarpment in Saudi Arabia. It is acaulescent and solitary, with blue-grey leaves and glossy red flowers. [1, 2]

Classification and nomenclature

Accepted name: Aloe calliantha T.A.McCoy & Lavranos [2]
Protologue bibliography: Cact. Succ. J. (Los Angeles) 86: 262 (2014) [2]
Type locality and type material: Saudi Arabia, Medina Province, rocky slopes 75 km west of Medina. McCoy 523, holotype FT. [1]

Etymology

The epithet calliantha derives from Greek callos (“beautiful”) and anthos (“flower”), alluding to the striking glossy red flowers. [1]

Key characteristics

Growth form

Acaulescent and solitary, with leaves arranged in a rosette. [1]

Leaves

Leaves are lanceolate-attenuate and blue-grey. [1]

Inflorescence and flowers

The inflorescence is erect and usually simple. Flowers are cernuous, with a cylindrical-ventricose, glossy red perianth. [1]

Distribution

Recorded as endemic to northwestern Saudi Arabia and restricted to a single mountain peak in the extreme northern Great Arabian Escarpment. [1, 2]

Habitat

It grows on very dry rocky slopes of crystalline basement complex at about 1,800 m. [1]

Main references

McCoy, T. (2019). The Aloes of Arabia. McCoy Publishing, Temecula, California. pp. 16–19.
World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP).

Updates

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