Aloes and Lilies of Ethiopia and Eritrea

60 ALOACEAE
Fig. 26. Aloe
schoelleri, from
Kohaito plateau,
Eritrea.
Description
Habitat and
distribution
Eritrean aloes (numbers 1–6) with pubescent and papillate
flowers. The description of the inflorescence seems to
indicate a relationship with A. trichosantha, but in A.
trichos antha, the whole inflorescence is pubescent. In
addition, the perianth segments are free to > 2/3 of their
length. The shape of the peri anth might further suggest
a relationship with A. steudneri (see below). Recently
Gebrehiwot Medhanie & Dioli (2006) have found the
species in the wild.
Rosettes with stems c. 30 cm long and 8 cm thick in older plants and
stemless in young ones. Leaves 40–52 × 9–14 cm. Marginal teeth
rarely present. Inflorescence solitary, 50–60 cm long, raceme ca. 30
cm long. Bracts large, rhomboidal to obovate, 14–17 × 9–10 mm,
acute at the apex, papillate. Racemes densely crowded, pedicels in
very young perianth parts short, immature ones ca. 10 mm long,
reddish. Bracts and tepals are partly papillose. Mature flowers not
known, but the perianth segments is free to more than > 2/3 of the
length.
The species is only known from the Ko haito Plateau in
Eritrea, and occurs at altitudes of c. 2600 m. The flowering
period is from February to April and may extend to July.