Aloes and Lilies of Ethiopia and Eritrea

Fig. 53. Aloe
schelpei, from
Debre Libanos,
Shewa floristic
region.
Description
Habitat and
distribution
Aloe ghibensis
ALOE
99
with the outer segments free for 12–15 mm, the (10–)12–
17 mm long pedicels and the triangular­ovate bracts 6–8
× 2–4 mm.
Succulent shrub, stems decumbent or pendent, 0.5–1 m long, 5–6
cm thick. Leaves crowded, 45–50 × 8–12 cm, spreading to recurved,
shallowly canaliculate, glaucous­grey to blue­green with pinkish
margin, sometimes spotted above and below towards base. Marginal
spines 7–11 per 10 cm, 3–4 mm long, pinkish. Inflorescence with
1–3 racemes only. Racemes cylindrical to conical, 6–16 cm long,
6–8 flowers per cm. Bracts ovate, 6–8 × 2–4 mm. Pedicels 10–17(–
20 in fruit) mm long. Perianth cylindrical, (22–)27–30 mm long,
5–7 mm wide when pressed, orange to orange­red; outer segments
free for (8–)12–15 mm.
The species grows in more open areas within evergreen
bushland on steep slopes and cliffs of basalt between
1700 and 2470 m in Shewa floristic region. It is so far not
known anywhere else. The main flowering period is from
October to March.
38. Aloe ghibensis Sebsebe & Friis
The specific epithet ‘ghibensis’ refers to the “Ghibe
Gorge” in Kefa floristic region, from where the type
specimen was collected from and known distribution
of the species so far. The species is described in Kew
Bulletin in 2010.