Aloes and Lilies of Ethiopia and Eritrea

Aloe elkerriana
Description
44. Aloe elkerriana Dioli & McCoy
ALOE 107
The specific epithet ‘elkerriana’ refers to the type locality
El Kerre in Ogaden in Bale floristic region where the
type collection was made. The species was described in
2007.
The species belongs to a small group of caulescent
aloes (numbers 42–45) that occur in Eastern and
Southeastern Ethiopia and. The group is characterised
by narrow, distinctly or obscurely spotted leaves which
are separated along the erect or sprawling stems, and by
the lax inflorescences. It is distinguished from the related
species by the long mainly single stems 3–5 meters long.
Dwarf to medium­sized plants occurring solitary or in small
groups; stems single or rarely branched, 10–20 mm thick, up to
3–5 meters long. Leaves spotted below in juvenile stages, green to
bluish­green, separated along the stem, triangular lanceolate up to
30 × 4.5 cm. Marginal spines 1–2 mm long, whitish­pink, and c. 4
mm apart. Inflorescence 1–2, branched 50–60 cm long, with 4–5
racemes. Racemes cylindrical, 10–15 cm long, sub-laxly flowered.
Bracts c. 5 mm long. Pedicels 10–17 mm long. Perianth cylindric
trigonous, c. 25 mm long and 5 mm wide, slightly constricted above
the ovary; outer segments free to nearly half way, apices recurved,
dark coral red with yellow mouth; outer segments free to nearly half
way, apices recurved, stamens and stigmas exserted. Capsule dark
brown, ovoid 15–19 × 10–14 mm.
Fig. 59. Aloe elkerriana, from Elkerre, Bale floristic region.