Aloes and Lilies of Ethiopia and Eritrea

Description
Habitat and
distribution
Aloe tewoldei
ALOE 105
The species belongs to a small group of caulescent
aloes (numbers 42–45) that occur in Eastern and
Southeastern Ethiopia characterised by narrow, distinctly
or obscurely spotted leaves which are separated along the
erect or sprawling stems, stems 1–2 cm in diamter. It is
distinguished from the closely related species A. tewoldei
by the marginal spines being white, obsolete to 1mm
long, flowers arranged to one side i.e secund, perianth
30–32 mm long and pedicel 5–7 mm long. In contrast,
A. tewoldei has pinkish marginal spines that are c. 2 mm
long, flowers arranged in all sides, peraianth 20 mm long
and pedicels 12 mm long.
Caulescent, suckering to form groups. Stem erect to decumbent
30–60 cm long, 1.8–2 cm wide. Roots hairy. Leaves scattered along
the stem 10–18, lax, arranged in 2–5 turns along the stem, grayish
green, not spotted, 30–50 × 2–4 cm, surface smooth; marginal
teeth obsolete, to 1 mm long, white, reddish­tipped, 3–5 mm apart
or 15–17 per 10 cm length; exudate drying yellow. Inflorescence
solitary or two, 50–80 cm long, with solitary or 2, rarely 4–6
racemes; raceme cylindrical, 15–30 cm long, lax, with 1–2 flowers/
cm. Stamens exerted 1–4 mm long. Flowers secund. Bracts white,
ovate–acuminate, 4–5 × 2.5 mm. Pedicel 6–7 mm. Perianth bright
scarlet, paler to almost white towards mouth, 28–32 mm, base
slightly swollen, truncate, 6–7 mm across; outer perianth parts free
for 10–12 mm long. Young fruits 17–20 mm long.
The species grows in vertical rock faces and edges of
rocky valleys and on outcrops along rivers between 1050
and 1500 m. Known so far only along the Welmel River
in Bale floristic region, Ethiopia. The main flowering
period is in December.
43. Aloe tewoldei Gilbert & Sebsebe
The specific epithet ‘tewoldei’ honours the eminent
Ethiopian ecologist and the first Leader of the Ethiopian
Flora Project, Dr. Tewolde Berhan Gebere Egziabher
who collected the material from which the species was
described in 1997. The type material was collected from
south of Asbe Teferi in Harerge floristic region and
cultivated at the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew.
The species belongs to a small group of caulescent
aloes (numbers 42–45) that occur in Eastern and
Southeastern Ethiopia characterised by narrow, distinctly