Aloes and Lilies of Ethiopia and Eritrea

Description
Habitat and
distribution
ALOE 109
a low shrubby habit, stems to ca. 20 cm long, and darkgreen
spotted leaves and the simple inflorescence.
Low succulent shrub, stems erect, up to 20 cm high, slender. Leaves
lax, spreading with recurving tips, slightly canaliculate, 21–32 ×
2.5–5 cm, light­green to bronze, clearly spotted above and below.
Marginal spines 9–12 per 10 cm, 3–4 mm long, brown­ tipped.
Inflorescence unbranched, to ca. 75 cm long. Raceme cylindrical,
9–12 cm long, lax (ca. 3 flowers per cm). Bracts ovate-acute, 6.5–7
× 4 mm. Pedicel 4–7(–12 in fruit) mm long. Perianth cylindrical to
subclavate, 21–25 mm long, 4–6(–7) mm wide when pressed, coral
pink; outer segments free for c. 7 mm.
The species grows in Acacia-Commiphora bushland at
around1200 m in northern Kenya. The species is so far
known only from the Kenyan side of the border with
Ethiopia. However, the fact that it is collected close to
the border at Moyale makes it probable that it may occur
in Sidamo floristic region of Ethiopia, and therefore it
is included here. The flowering period is from March to
April.