Aloes and Lilies of Ethiopia and Eritrea

58 ALOACEAE
Description
Habitat and
distribution
Aloe eumassawana
Description
The species belongs to a small group of Ethiopian/
Eritrean aloes (numbers 1–6) with pubescent and papillate
flowers. It is easily separated from other members of
the group except A. citrina by its spotted leaves. It is
distinguished from A. citrina, by its inrolled leaves that
become tubular in dry conditions, 3–5 spines on the lower
surface of the leaves, and the dark coral red perianth.
Rosettes stemless, solitary or suckering to form small groups of
3–4. Leaves 13–15, erect to slightly incurved, strongly inrolled,
becoming tubular in dry condition, 50–65 × 8–9 cm, longitudinally
striped and with profuse whitish green blotches. Marginal teeth
4–6 per 10 cm, 1–2 mm long; lower surface of most leaves bearing
3–5 spines. Inflorescence 1–2 m long, raceme simple, 50–80 cm
long, cylindrical-conical, with 3 flowers per cm. Bracts triangular,
acuminate at apex, whitish on the sides, 9–12 × 3–4 mm. Pedicel
4–7 mm long. Perianth dark­coral red, cylindric­trigonous, 20–23
mm long, c. 2.5 mm wide when pressed, minutely pubescent; outer
lobes free for 1/3 of their length.
The type locality in Harerge floristic region is in an area
of Acacia woodland on sandy soil between 300 and 400
m. It is so far not known from anywhere else. The main
flowering period is from November to December.
5. Aloe eumassawana Carter, Gilbert & Sebsebe
The specific epithet ‘eumassawana’ refers to the true
Massawa aloe (the single known wild locality for the
species). The species was described in 1996 with the type
material collected from Arkiko near Massawa in Eritrea.
The species belongs to a small group of Ethiopian/
Eritrean aloes (numbers 1–6) with pubescent and papillate
flowers. It is easily recognised from other members of the
group by its short (18–21 mm long) perianth which is
papillate, not pubescent.
Rosettes stemless or nearly so, suckering to form large clusters.
Leaves ca. 16, 45–50 × 7–18 cm, tips slightly incurved to slightly
recurved, shallowly canaliculate, dull grey green and sometimes
with a few pale spots. Marginal teeth 5–6(–7) per 10 cm, ca. 3 mm
long, reddish-brown only at the tips. Inflorescence erect, 1.2–1.5 m
high with 1–3 racemes. Racemes (15–)20–25 cm long, cylindricalconical,
dense, 4–8 flowers per cm. Bracts 6.5–7 × 2.5–4 mm.
Pedicels 3–4.5(–7) mm long. Perianth cylindrical trigonous, (18–)
20–21mm long, ca. 7 mm wide when pressed, pale scarlet or orange
with pale lobe margins; outer lobes free for 12–15 mm.