Tas. 8147. 
ALOE nirens, 
South Africa. 
Lintacgeak. Tribe ALOINEAE, 
Ator, Linn.; Benth. et Hook. f. Gen, Plant, vol. iii. p. 776. 
Aloe nitens, Baker in Journ. Linn. Soc. vol. xviii. p. 170, et in Thiselton- 
Dyer, Fl. Cap. vol. vi. p. 325, non Schult. f.; A. africanae, Mill., affinis, 
a qna inflorescentia paniculata perianthioque recto viridi recedit. 
Caulis simplex, circa 3 m. altus, 7°5 em. diam. Folia prope apicem caulis 
congesta, lanceolata, glabra, 60 em. longa, 6 cm. lata; spinae curvatae, 
brunneae, 3 mm. longae, inter se 8 mm, distantes. Panicula racemosa ; 
pedunculi patentes, circa 35 em. longa; spica multiflora, eam Kniphofiae 
alooidis, Moench, simulans; brecteae circa 10 em. longae; bracteolae 
dense imbricatae, lunatae, 5 mm. diam., marginibus membranaceis valde 
recurvis. Flores subsessiles, virides. Perianthiwm rectum, cylindricum, 
2 cm, longum ; segmenta oblonga, obtusa, 4 mm. lata, exteriora herbacea, 
5-nervia, interiora membranacea, 3-nervia. Stamina perianthio duplo 
longiora; filamenta complanata, basi 1 mm, lata, in antherae foveola 
dorsifixa; antherae oblongae, 4 mm. longae, apieulatae. Ovariwm ovoi- 
deum, 6 mm. longum; stylus staminibus aequilongus. 
For years Aloe nitens has been one of the most striking 
of the many species cultivated in the Succulent House at 
Kew, flowering in midwinter every year when its large 
inflorescence, formed of six or more branches, each 
bearing a cluster of rich crimson flowers, is a great 
attraction. It was sent to Kew in 1877 by Sir Henry 
Barkly when Governor at the Cape, and it is now a fine 
specimen 12 ft. high, the upper half clothed with long 
green leaves. 
Descr.—Stem unbranched, about 12 ft. high, 3 in, in 
diameter, pale brown. JZeaves crowded into an apical 
crown, lanceolate, glabrous, about 2 ft. long and 24 in, 
wide, edged with stout brown upcurved spines } in. long, 
and about 3 in. apart. Panicle bearing about 7 spikes 
racemosely arranged ; peduncles patent, about 14 in. long ; 
spikes densely many-flowered, resembling those of Knipho- 
Jia alooides, Moench ; bracts about 4 in. long; bracteoles 
densely imbricate, lunate, about 3 lin. across, with strongly 
recurved membranous margins; flowers subsessile, 
Perianth straight, cylindrical, # in. long, green; segments 
oblong, obtuse, § in. wide, the outer herbaceous and 
6 
Aveust Ist, 1907, 
