Short-stemmed, mostly solitary green to brown aloe from South Africa and Lesotho. Medium size (2-3 feet wide). Rosette may be open and green or closed and brownish, depending on drought stress. In seasonally dry climates like ours (with dry summers) the plant bears a clenched, brown affect during the dry season, opening and greening up within days after the first rain.

This aloe is noteworthy for its unbranched, tall, densely flowered, spike-like inflorescence where flower perianths are completely hidden by bracts (except on var. tarkaensis, whose bracts are about half as long as the perianth). The greenish color of the inflorescence is due to the bracts, while the orange and yellow highlights are due to exserted filaments and anthers.

Heat and drought tolerant. Leaf tips are well armed.

Reply to this comment