Aloe citrina

Overview

Aloe citrina is a stemless aloe recorded from Somalia, southeastern Ethiopia and northeastern Kenya. It has upright, spotted leaves, and published accounts differ in their descriptions of perianth colour. [1, 2]

Classification and nomenclature

Accepted name: Aloe citrina S.Carter & Brandham [3]
Protologue bibliography: The first-publication citation is recorded as Bradleya 1: 21 (1983). [2]

Etymology

The epithet citrina is recorded as deriving from Latin citrinus, meaning lemon-yellow. [3]

Key characteristics

Leaves

The plants lack a stem and occur singly or in small clusters. The pale grey-green leaves are upright to slightly incurved, with many pale spots that may form bands across the blade. [1]

Inflorescence and flowers

Inflorescences reach up to 2 m, with cylindrical-conical racemes. [1]

Accounts differ in perianth colour, reporting either grey-green to greenish-yellow or pale lemon-yellow flowers. [1, 2]

Distribution

Somalia, Ethiopia and Kenya. [2]

Habitat

For Sidamo Region in Ethiopia, the records specify sandy soil and open deciduous bushland. Another account records open bushland without a more specific vegetation description. [1, 2]

Main references

Sebsebe Demissew & Nordal, I. (2010). Aloes and Lilies of Ethiopia and Eritrea, 2nd ed.
Carter, S., Lavranos, J.J., Newton, L.E. & Walker, C.C. (2011). Aloes: The Definitive Guide. Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew. p. 372.
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. 38.

Updates

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

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