Aloe schoelleri

Overview

Aloe schoelleri is an accepted succulent species native to Eritrea. [1, 2]

Key characteristics

Growth form

Young plants are stemless; mature plants develop a prostrate stem and occur singly or in small groups. [2, 3, 4]

Leaves

The triangular grey-green leaves are 40–52 × 9–14 cm. [2, 3]

Leaf surface and margin

The leaf margins are dark red with relatively few, small and often blunt teeth. [2]

Inflorescence and flowers

It produces one or two unbranched inflorescences 50–80 cm high with very dense racemes; mature flowers are glabrous, pale yellow-greenish or pale pink-orange, with a 26–32 mm cylindrical-trigonous perianth. [2, 4]

Distribution

The species is documented from the Kohaito Plateau in Eritrea, at about 2600 m elevation in the 2006 field account. [1, 2, 3]

Habitat

Plants grow in sandy soil and rock crevices at cliff edges; a later account describes the population as confined to a rock face along the Kohaito escarpment. [2, 4]

Etymology

The epithet schoelleri is interpreted as commemorating Max Schoeller, who accompanied Schweinfurth in Eritrea in 1891. [3]

Classification and nomenclature

Accepted name: Aloe schoelleri Schweinf. [1]

Main references

World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP).
Medhanie, G. & Dioli, M. (2006). Observations on three poorly known aloes from Eritrea. Cactus and Succulent Journal 78(1):36–41. DOI
Sebsebe Demissew & Nordal, I. (2010). Aloes and Lilies of Ethiopia and Eritrea, 2nd ed. p. 60.
Carter, S., Lavranos, J.J., Newton, L.E. & Walker, C.C. (2011). Aloes: The Definitive Guide. Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew. p. 516.
Gilbert, M.G. & Sebsebe Demissew (1997). Further Notes on the Genus Aloe in Ethiopia and Eritrea. Kew Bulletin 52(1): 139–152.
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. 139.

Updates

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