A/of. 43 



again some discrepancies between De Candolle's {PL Grasses t. 

 38) and Salm-Dyck's (Aloe, sect, xxvi, fig. 3) figures which make 

 identification very difficult. 



Until recently the following species : — 



49a. a. natalensis, Wood et Evans (Report, Natal Botanic 

 Gardens 1900, Journ. of Bot. 1901, and Wood in " Natal Plants " 

 Plate 258) was taken for it by various South African Botanists, 

 and a dried specimen which I submitted to Mr, J, G. Baker, F.R.S., 

 was doubtfully referred by him to it, but its cha>'acteristic mode 

 of copious branching makes it quite distinct, besides the shape of 

 the corolla is different from the published figures of Aloe 

 arhorescens, it being somewhat constricted above the base in A . 

 natalensis, whereas in the former it is decidedly cylindrical. 

 This plant is a favourite in Capetown and Grahamstown gardens, 

 where it flowers profusely in midwinter — Flanagan, no. 1790, 

 rocky slopes near Komgha, June '93, alt. 1000', belongs to this 

 species. 



50 (522). A. pluridens, Haw. — This is another plant which 

 has frequently been taken for A. arhorescens. It grows in vari- 

 ous localities on stony ridges near Grahamstown, and flowers in 

 midwinter. My specimens agree with MacOwan no. 1825, in the 

 Cape Government Herbarium, and my determination has been 

 confirmed by Mr. J. G. Baker. With us, however, the perianth 

 is not quite cylindrical, but somewhat constricted above the 

 middle, further it is not yellowish-red, but the visible parts are 

 deep red, tipped with dirty green, the covered parts of the inner 

 petals being pale red. The outer petals are united at the base, the 

 inner are free. The prickles on the margins of the leaves are 

 white. The surfaces of the leaves, especially the lower ones, are 

 indistinctly striate. The stem is frequently branched from the 

 base, very rarely higher up. 



A . 2iliiridens, Haw, rar. Beckeri, Schonl n. var. Leaves thinner 

 than in A. jduridens, more decidedly striate, the striae distinctly 

 raised, forming a series of low longitudinal ridges. The marginal 

 spines are a little further apart than in the type and a little 

 smaller. Stem, bracts, flowers, Ac, very much as in the type, but 

 inflorescence with fewer flowers and not so dense. Flowers in 

 midwinter. — This varietj^ was received by Dr. H. Becker, F.L.S., 

 F.S.A., from Mauritius, but he has reason to believe that it was 

 taken thei'e originally from South Africa. With reference to a 



