Aloe greatheadii

Overview

Aloe greatheadii is a broad, spotted-leaved aloe distributed from southern DR Congo to northern South Africa. Inflorescences are recorded at 100–175 cm high, while published sources differ in perianth colour and length. [1, 2, 3]

Classification and nomenclature

Accepted name: Aloe greatheadii Schönland [3]
Protologue bibliography: Rec. Albany Mus. 1: 121 (1904) [3]
Synonyms: Aloe pallidiflora A.Berger [4, 3]

Aloe termetophyla De Wild. [4, 3]

Etymology

The Aloe Names Book (2011) identifies Dr J.B. Greathead as the namesake, noting that Greathead and S. Schönland collected the type jointly. [4]

Key characteristics

Growth form

Plants are stemless or have a stout stem to 30 cm, occur singly or in small groups, and produce offsets. [1]

Leaves

Leaves are broadly lanceolate and spreading, 20–40 × 6–12 cm, with a dark glossy-green upper surface bearing whitish oblong spots in transverse bands. The lower surface is pale greyish-green and unspotted. The brown, horny margins carry pungent, deltoid, red-brown teeth. [1]

Inflorescence and flowers

Inflorescences are 100–175 cm high with 3–10 branches and racemes 8–20 cm long. The perianth is recorded either as pale pink and 25–32 mm long or as dull flesh-pink to almost white and 22–35 mm long; stamens and style are scarcely exserted. [1, 2]

Distribution

It is distributed from southern DR Congo to northern South Africa. [3]

Habitat

The reported elevational range is 1,000–1,500 m; Carter et al. (2011) document the species in open woodland and on stony grassland. [1]

Main references

Carter, S., Lavranos, J.J., Newton, L.E. & Walker, C.C. (2011). Aloes: The Definitive Guide. Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew. pp. 176–177.
Nomenclatural notes on three southern African representatives of the genus Aloe. p. 490. DOI
World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP).
Grace, O.M., Klopper, R.R., Figueiredo, E. & Smith, G.F. (2011). The Aloe Names Book. Strelitzia 28. South African National Biodiversity Institute, Pretoria. pp. 66–67.

Updates

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

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