Aloe excelsa
Aloe excelsa
Overview
Aloe excelsa A.Berger is native to Zimbabwe, Zambia, Botswana, South Africa, Mozambique and Malawi. Two varieties are currently accepted. [1]
Classification and nomenclature
- Accepted name
- Aloe excelsa A.Berger [1]
- Protologue bibliography
- Berger (1906), Notizbl. Königl. Bot. Gart. Berlin 4: 247. [1]
Etymology
The epithet excelsa refers to the tall growth habit, from the Latin excelsus (tall, high). [2]
Distribution
The species is recorded from Botswana, Malawi, Mozambique, Zambia, Zimbabwe and South Africa (Northern Provinces). Carter et al. (2011) record Zimbabwe, central Zambia, northern Botswana and north-eastern South Africa in the primary or typical account. [1, 3]
Carter et al. (2011) report Eyles 1240 in Marloth 3888 (PRE), collected at Hillside, Bulawayo, Zimbabwe. [3]
Habitat
The primary or typical account in Carter et al. (2011) describe granite outcrops, steep rocky slopes and open deciduous woodland at 450–1,500 m. This range is not applied to var. breviflora. [3]
Main references
- Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew. Plants of the World Online / WCVP: Aloe excelsa A.Berger.
- Grace, O.M., Klopper, R.R., Figueiredo, E. & Smith, G.F. (2011). The Aloe Names Book. Strelitzia 28. pp. 56–57.
- Carter, S., Lavranos, J.J., Newton, L.E. & Walker, C.C. (2011). Aloes: The Definitive Guide. Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew. p. 687.