Aloes and Lilies of Ethiopia and Eritrea

Description
Subspecies
Aloe gilbertii subsp.
gilbertii
Aloe gilbertii subsp.
megalacanthoides
ALOE
97
of the knowledge of the Ethiopian Flora, M.G. Gilbert.
The name was proposed by Reynolds, and the species
was later formally described in 1997. The type material
was collected from an area south of Awassa towards
Yirgalem in Sidamo floristic region.
A. gilbertii belongs to a group of cau lescent aloes
(numbers 31–41) mainly characterized by erect, ascending
or spraw ling stems. A. gilbertii is distinguished from the
related species occurring in southern and eastern Ethiopia
by the cylindrical to subclavate perianth, 23–27 mm long,
with the outer segments free for 8–11 mm, the pedicels
9–10 mm long and the triangular­ovate bracts, 4–6 × 2–3
mm. It also shows similarities to A. calidophila, which is
best separated by the longer and more strongly reflexed,
deeply canaliculate leaves, less branched inflorescence
and smaller, more clavate flowers.
A succulent shrub, stem erect, up to 1–1.5 m long, occasionally ±
stemless. Leaves crowded, 40–60 × 9–11 cm, canaliculate, recurved
towards tip, dark green or glaucous, often flushed brown or mauve
above and below. Marginal teeth 7–10 per 10 cm, 3–5 mm long,
with brown tips. Inflorescence up to 1.2 m high, compoundly
branched with 15–25 racemes. Racemes cylindrical, 6–15 cm long,
lax, 2–4(–5) flowers per cm. Bracts ovate, acute, 4–6 × 2–3 mm.
Pedicels 9–10 mm long. Perianth cylindrical to subclavate, trigonously
indented, 23–27 mm long, 4.5–8 mm wide when pressed,
orange to red; outer segments free for 8–11 mm.
Two subspecies are recognized in the Flora area.
1. Leaves only slightly recurved, easily flattened when prepared for
drying; perianth 23–27 mm long . a. subsp. gilbertii
- Leaves strongly recurved, impossible to flatten when prepared for
drying; perianth 27–28 mm long. b. subsp. megalacanthoides
a. subsp. gilbertii
The subspecies grows in Acacia woodland, often found in
hedges and along field margins; between 1300 and 1800
(1900) m in Shewa, Gamo Gofa and Sidamo floristic
regions. It is recognised by the characters gi ven in the
key above. It is so far not known anywhere else. The
main flowering period is from October to December.
b. subsp. megalacanthoides Gilbert & Sebsebe
The subspecific epithet ‘megal acan tho ides’ refers to A.
megalacantha like (­oides), referring to the resemblance
between this subspecies and A. megalacantha. The
subspecies was described in 1997. The type material was