Tas. 6071. 
ALOE (Apicra) DELTOIDEA. 
Native of South Africa. 
Nat. Ord. Littacea.—Tribe AGAPANTHE. 
Genus Axor, Linn. ; (Endl. Gen. Plant., p. 143). 
A oe (Apicra) deltoidea ; robusta, caulescens, foliis $—1-poll. longis quinque- 
fariis confertissimis horizontalibus crassis deltoideo-ovatis acuminatis 
pungentibus supra planis subtus convexis carinatis marginibus plani- 
usculis carinaque superne eroso-serrulatis luride viridibus levissimis, 
racemo spiceformi elongato flexuoso multifloro, pedicellis brevissimis, 
bracteolis deltoideo-lanceolatis pedicellum superantibus, perianthii erecti 
tubo }-pollicari oblongo-cylindraceo virescente lobis brevibus late obo- 
vatis sub-2-lobis erosis albis ter longiore, staminibus inequilongis in- 
clusis, antheris brevibus, ovario lineari-oblongo, stylo brevicurvo. 
This singular succulent belongs to the same section of 
Aloe with A. foliolosa (Tab. nost. 1352), wentagona (Tab. nost. 
1338), spirella, imbricata (Tab. nost. 1445), spiralis, ete., of 
Haworth, which are all closely allied, having 5-fariously 
densely imbricating leaves, that clothe the stem throughout, 
and terminal racemes of erect flowers, with an oblong tube 
and short segments. It differs from the first-named of these 
chiefly in size, and in the leaves not being spirally disposed 
except on the young shoots, though I should much doubt 
this character being of any value. It has long been cul- 
tivated in the Royal Gardens, where there 1s no record of 
its introduction. The perfect regularity with which the 
leaves are superposed in five series, and the columnar stem, 
render it a very striking object in the greenhouse. It flowers 
in May, and is easily propagated by offshoots from the base 
of the stem. : : : 
Duscr. Stem strict, erect, wholly clothed with leaves from 
the very base upwards, emitting stout cylindric roots, and 
surculi from the base; diameter across the leaves two inches. 
Leaves three-quarters to one inch long, most densely 5- 
DECEMBER Isr, 1873. 
