Aloe catengiana

Aloe catengiana is a species of plant in the genus Aloes in the subfamily Asphodelidae. The species epithet catengiana refers to the occurrence of the species near Catengue in Angola.^[1]

Description

Vegetative characteristics

Aloe catengiana grows trunk-like, branching and forming thickets 1 to 2 metres in diameter or more. The ascending, spreading or prostrate stem is 1.5 to 2 metres long. If supported by surrounding vegetation, it can grow up to 3 meters long. The 16 to 20 lanceolate, pointed leaves are scattered along the trunk over 30 centimetres. The light yellowish green leaf blade is 30 centimetres long and 3 to 5 centimetres wide. On it are very light green lenticular spots, more frequent in the lower half. The firm, reddish brown pointed teeth on the leaf margin are 3 millimeters long and stand 8 to 10 millimeters apart. Their lined leaf sheaths have a length of 15 to 20 millimeters.

Inflorescences and flowers

The inflorescence consists of about six branches and reaches a length of 40 centimeters. The loose, cylindrically pointed racemes are up to 16 centimeters long and 4 centimeters wide. On side branches they consist of almost unifoliolate flowers. The ovate-pointed bracts are 5 millimeters long and 3 millimeters wide. The dull scarlet flowers are on pedicels 10 millimeters long. The flowers are 28 millimetres long and rounded at their base. At the level of the ovary, the flowers are 7 millimeters in diameter. Above this they are very little narrowed and finally dilated to the mouth. Their outer perigone leaves are not fused together for a length of 10 millimeters. The stamens and pistil protrude 1 to 2 millimeters from the flower.

Genetics

The chromosome number is

.

Systematics and distribution

Aloe catengiana is distributed in the southwest of Angola and in the north of Namibia in hot, dry bush at altitudes of about 518 meters.

The first description by Gilbert Westacott Reynolds was published in 1961.^[2]

Evidence

Literature

• Susan Carter, John J. Lavranos, Leonard E. Newton, Colin C. Walker: Aloes. The definitive guide. Kew Publishing, Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew 2011, ISBN 978-1-84246-439-7, p. 634.
• Leonard Eric Newton: Aloe catengiana. In: Urs Eggli (ed.): Sukkulenten-Lexikon. Monocotyledons (monocotyledonous plants). Eugen Ulmer, Stuttgart 2001, ISBN 3-8001-3662-7, p. 123.

Individual references

1. ↑ Urs Eggli, Leonard E. Newton: Etymological Dictionary of Succulent Plant Names. Springer, Berlin/Heidelberg 2010, ISBN 978-3-642-05597-3, p. 42.
2. ↑ Kirkia. Vol. 1, 1961, p. 160.