Aloe. 2'j;i 



A. s'uccotrina, Lam., Eiicycl. 1.85 [/t. /vZwr/rfens, Haw., in Phil. 

 Mag.LS24, p 290; A. Atherstonei, Bak , in Jom-n. Linn. Soc. 28, 170: 

 A./nirpurascens, Haw, in Trans. Linn. Soc. 7, 20; A.sinnata, Thunb. 

 Diss. No. 5 ; A . j)e/'f()Iiata, uar. purpuirisccns, Ait. Hort. Kew., L 

 466 ; A. soccotrina, var. purpuraHceni^, GawL in Bot. Mag. t. 1474; 

 A. soccotrina, DC, PL Grasses t. 85 ; A. per/oliata, var. >iuccotrina 

 Curt, in Bot. Mag. t. 472 ; A. vera, ^MilL in Gard. Diet. ed. 8, No. 

 15 (non Linn.).] 



A satisfactory subdivision into varieties is at present impos- 

 sible. For this purpose our knowledge of the plant in the wild 

 state is too small. 



Through the kindness of Mr. Alwin Berger, of La 

 Mortola, I have received cuttings of the ]3lant which in 

 Europe is known as A. arhorcscens. Mill. These have not flowered 

 yet, but there can scarcelj' be a doubt that it is the same species as 

 the plant figured as .4. iiatalensis. Wood et Evans (Natal Plants,' 

 Vol. III., pi. 258). The mode of growth of Mr. Berger's cuttings 

 is the same as in A. natalensis, namely very bushy, the plant 

 being richly branched and not arborescent at all, but the mode 

 of growth, of all these plants varies (see my remarks on \). 291, un- 

 der A. Sahn-Dyckiana) . To A. arhorescens must also be referrred 

 the plant which I had determined as A. purpurascpus (Rec. Alb. 

 Mus. I. p. 42), and which has the same mode of growth as A. 

 natalenais. With a fuller knowledge we shall, no doubt, be able 

 to subdivide .4. arhorescens, Mill, also into a number of more or 

 less well marked varieties. The range of the species, as I take it, is 

 very wide. It is known from the neigbourhood of the Cape 

 Peninsula in the West, it is then known from Komgha, Natal, and 

 (jiidging from specimens which were received from Mr. J. Burtt- 

 Davy, No. 1363, but which have not flowered yet), it extends 

 to Waterval Boven in the Transvaal. The 2 species here only 

 recognised may be readily distinguished as follows : 



Leaves usually green, at the base slightly convex on the lower sur- 

 face, slightly convex on the upper, marginal spines usually close 

 together, more stronglj' curved towards the apex than in 

 A. arhorescens, inflorescence loose, bracts frequently narrower. 

 Habit frequently arborescent. A. siiccotrina, Lam. 



