Aloes and Lilies of Ethiopia and Eritrea

54 ALOACEAE
Aloe trichosantha
ssp. trichosantha
Aloe trichosantha
ssp. longiflora
Aloe pubescens
Description
Habitat and
distribution
a. subsp. trichosantha
This subspecies grows in open dry bush land between
900 and 1700 m in Tigray floristic region in Ethi opia
and in Eritrea. It may also occur in the Sudan. The main
flowering period is in the dry season, from February to
May.
b. subsp. longiflora Gilbert & Seb sebe
The subspecific epithet ‘longi flora’ refers to the relatively
long (longi) flowers (flo ra), at least compared to the
other subspecies. It was described with the type ma terial
collected west of Daletti in Harerge by Gilbert and
Sebsebe in 1997.
This subspecies is widespread in Ethiopia and grows
abundantly in open deciduous bushland on volcanic
rocks and alluvial soils between 1000 and 1950 m. It is
not known anywhere else. The flowering period is almost
through out the year, with records from August to May.
2. Aloe pubescens Reynolds
The specific epithet ‘pubescens’ refers to the hairy
inflorescence and flowers. It was described in 1957. The
type material was collected near Shashamene in Shewa
region and cultivated in Pretoria.
This species belongs to a small group of Ethiopian/
Eritrean aloes (numbers 1–6) with pubescent or papillate
flowers. It differs from its related species by its bracts,
which are more than 5 mm wide.
Rosettes stemless (in cultivation with stems to 30 cm long), usually
suckering freely to form groups. Leaves c. 16, 35–45 × 6–13 cm,
suberect with slightly recurved tips, grey green without markings
(except in seedling plants). Marginal teeth 8–11 per 10 cm, 2–3.5
mm long, upper half reddish-brown. Inflorescence 0.7–1.5 m high
with 1–2(–3) racemes. Racemes 20–35 cm long, cylindrical­conical,
dense (3–5 flowers per cm). Bracts ovate-triangular, 15–21 × 6–14
mm, acute. Pedicels 12–20 mm long. Perianth similar in form to that
of Aloe trichosantha, 33–40 mm long, 4–5 mm wide when pressed,
minutely pubescent, pink; outer lobes free for c. 12 mm. Capsule 21
× 7.5 mm, ellipsoidal. Seeds ± blackish, 3 angled/ winged, 5 mm
long, wing 1.2 mm wide, densely dark veined.
The species grows along rocky stream banks, often in
areas with remnants of Po do carpus forest, and along
field margins, from 1800 to 2550 m in Shewa and Ha-