Aloe fulleri

Overview

Aloe fulleri is endemic to southern Yemen. It is usually acaulescent, solitary or sometimes forming small groups, with glaucous grey-green leaves and an erect inflorescence. [1, 2, 3]

Classification and nomenclature

Accepted name: Aloe fulleri Lavranos [3]
Protologue bibliography: Cact. Succ. J. (Los Angeles) 39: 125 (1967). [1, 2, 3]
Type locality and type material: Southern Arabia, some miles south of Habban in Wahidi country; sandy soil; ca. 14°10'N, ca. 47°03'E; ca. 900 m; collected June 1965; Fuller in Lavranos 4206; PRE. [1]
Synonyms: Aloe rigens var. mortimeri Lavranos [1, 2, 3]

Etymology

The epithet fulleri honours Major Andrew B.I. Fuller, who is recorded as the scientific discoverer of the species. [1, 4]

Key characteristics

Growth form

Usually acaulescent; older plants may develop a short decumbent stem up to 12 cm. Plants are solitary or sometimes offset to form small groups. [1, 2]

Leaves

Leaves 12–15 in a rosette, 40–45 cm long and up to 8 cm wide, glaucous and greyish-green, often with a yellowish-brown hue. [1, 2]

Leaf surface and margin

The reddish-brown cartilaginous margin bears pungent deltoid teeth. Tooth length is recorded as 1–3 mm by McCoy (2019) and 1–2 mm by Carter et al. (2011), with spacing of 15–25 mm. [1, 2]

Inflorescence and flowers

The erect inflorescence is 40–70 cm high and bears one or two branches. The perianth is cylindrical-trigonous and 30–35 mm long; McCoy (2019) records dark reddish-pink, less often yellow flowers, whereas Carter et al. (2011) record coral red. [1, 2]

Distribution

POWO records the native area as S. Yemen. McCoy (2019) and Carter et al. (2011) record the species from southern Yemen, extending eastwards from the Habban area along the Hadhrami foothills toward al-Mukalla. [1, 2, 3]

Habitat

It grows on limestone in stony or sandy valley bottoms and rocky slopes within dry savanna scrubland, including sparse Vachellia woodland. Recorded elevation is 500–900 m and annual rainfall is about 130 mm. [1, 2]

Main references

McCoy, T. (2019). The Aloes of Arabia. McCoy Publishing, Temecula, California. pp. 38–41.
Carter, S., Lavranos, J.J., Newton, L.E. & Walker, C.C. (2011). Aloes: The Definitive Guide. Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew. p. 269.
Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew. Plants of the World Online: Aloe fulleri Lavranos (accessed 2026-09-24). Source
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. 61.

Updates

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