Tas. 7948, 
ALOE Baum. . 
Native of South-west Africa, 
Nat. Ord. Lintacez.—Tribe ALOINE. 
Genus Ator, Linn.; (Benth. et Hook. f. Gen. Plant. vol. iii. p. 776.) 
Aor Baumii; acaulis (fere acaulis Engl. et Gilg) foliis circiter 15-20 dense 
rosulatis lanceolatis patentissimis 9-12 poll. longis basi 2-2 latis 5-6 lin. 
crassis apice in plantis cultis cito plus minusve marcescentibus supra 
planis maculis numerosis albidis oblongis longitudinalibus ornatis margine 
regulariter dentatis dentibus e basi lata rigidissimis corneis pungentibus 
fere rectis circiter 3 lin. longis inter se 4-6 lin. distantibus, scapo solitario 
erecto graciliusculo 3-5-pedali supra medium laxe simpliciterque ramoso 
ramis 3-10 erectis laxifloris, bracteis herbaceis albidis lanceolato-caudatis 
sursum gradatim minoribus supremis pedicellis paullo longioribus, pedi- 
cellis vix 3 lin. longis, floribus rubro-coccineis (flavido-rubescentibus 
Engl. et Gilg.) 1-1} poll. longis pendulis, perianthii tubo supra ovarium 
valde constricto lobis tubo brevioribus erectis (an semper ?) interioribus 
latioribus omnibus subobtusis, staminibus styloque brevissime exsertis. 
A. Baumii, Engler & Gilg, in Warburg (Baum’s) Kunene-Sambesi Exped. 
pp. 186, e¢ 191-2, fig. 90. 
We are indebted to Sir Thomas Hanbury for the oppor- 
tunity of figuring this handsome dwarf Aloe. Excellent 
specimens were sent to Kew by Mr. A. Berger, his 
enthusiastic gardener, together with notes, and a photo- 
graph of the plant, as growing in the beautiful gardens 
of La Mortola. This was in November of last year, and 
in the previous April specimens and a photograph of 
another plant were received from the same source under 
the name of A. hereroensis, Engl., of which also a drawing 
was made. At Kew we are unable to distinguish them 
specifically, but Mr. Berger maintains that they are 
different, and states, amongst other things, that the seeds 
are totally different. The seeds of A. hereroensis, he says, 
are among the smallest of the genus, and quite wingless, 
whereas those of 4A. Baumii are relatively large, and 
prominently winged. We have no seeds for comparison ; 
but Engler describes the perianth of his A. hereroensis as 
“ perianthio supra ovarium haud constricto,” and it is very 
decidedly constricted in the plant received under that 
name. In both of the cultivated plants the tips of the 
leaves are crippled and shrivelled; those of the plant 
APRIL Ist, 1904, 
