Aloes and Lilies of Ethiopia and Eritrea

Description
Subspecies
Aloe megalacantha
subsp. megalacantha
35. Aloe megalacantha Baker
ALOE
95
The specific epithet ‘megalacantha’ refers to the larger
(megala-) spines (cantha) on the leaf margins. The species
was descri bed in 1898. The type material was collected
near Milmil in the Ogaden region, eastern Ethiopia.
A. megalacantha belongs to a group of caulescent aloes
(numbers 31–41) mainly characterized by erect, ascending
or spraw ling stems. A. megalacantha is distingui shed
from the related groups occurring in southern and eastern
Ethiopia by the cylindrical­trigonous perianth, 23–30
mm long, with the outer segments free for 10–14 mm,
the pedicels (8–)10–15 mm long and the triangular­ovate
bracts 5–12 × 2–4 mm.
Succulent shrub, 0.5–2 m high. Leaves crowded, 60–80 × 13–15
cm, deeply canaliculate, recurved, dull light­green to bluish­green.
Marginal spines 5–7 per 10 cm, 4–6 mm long, pinkish to reddishbrown.
Inflorescence 0.5–1 m high, with 6–13 racemes. Racemes
cylindrical to conical, 5–14 cm long, lax or dense. Bracts triangular
to ovate, 5–2 × 2–4 mm. Pedicels (8–)10–15(–17 in fruit) mm long.
Perianth cylindrical­trigonous, 23–30 mm long, 4–7 mm wide when
pressed, yellow orange or scarlet; outer segments free for 10–14
mm.
The species is divided into two subspecies, based on
differences in the length of the bracts and the marginal
spines.
1. Bracts 4–7 mm long; marginal spines 5–6 mm long
a. subsp. megalacantha
- Bracts 11–12 mm long; marginal spines ca. 4 mm long
b. subsp. alticola
a. subsp. megalacantha
The subspecies is characterised by having ascending
stems thus forming a sprawling bush. Marginal spines
are 5–6 mm long. The racemes are denser than in subsp.
alticola with (6–)7–10 flowers per cm. The bracts are
5–8.5 mm long and the perianth 23–28 mm long.
The subspecies grows on rocky hillsides and sandy
alluvial plains in open Acacia-Commiphora-Balanites
bushland; frequently planted on graves between 1100
and 1850 m in Bale and Harerge floristic regions. It also
occurs in northern Somalia. The main flowering period
in Ethiopia is from August to October, sometimes also
in April.