PLATES 679 & 580. 



Aloe Marlothii, A. Berg. (Engl. Jalirb, XXXVIII., p. 87.) 

 Nat. Order, Liliace^. 



Stem stout, simple, erect, 10 to 12 feet long below the leaves. Leaves 

 rosulate, erect, 1 to 2^ feet long, 7 inches wide at base, i to f inch thick, the 

 rosettes large, the leaves many, lanceolate-ensiform, fleshy, distinctly acuminate, 

 convex below, canaliculate above, especially towards the apex, the margins erecto- 

 incurved on both sides ; on both sides, but especially beneath, spine bearing, the 

 margins armed with stout brown spines. Inflorescence much branched, peduncle 

 stout, and like the lower branches more or less ancipitous (in dried specimens), 

 10 inches long, 2-| inches thick, the lower branches again branching, upper ones 

 simple, all erecto-patent or sometimes carved at base. Racemes up to 12 inches 

 long, densely many-flowered, subsecund; bracts ovate, acute, 1 -nerved, 3 lines 

 long; perianth straight, ]|^ inch long, oblong, orange-red, tube short, the three 

 inner segments black at apex. Stamens long exserted, filaments subulate, anthers 

 dorsifixed, versatile. Ovary sessile, 3-celled, many ovuled, ovules superposed ; 

 style filiform, stigma minute. Capsule oblong, 3-angled, coriaceous, loculicidally 

 opening, 1 to 14 lines long, 6 lines wide. Seeds triquetrous, winged. 



Habitat : Natal. Near Ladysmith, 3,300 ft. alt., flowering in August, sent 

 by /. G. Eaycroft ; from same locality August T. W. Turner in Herb. Wood 11714, 

 with dried sap. Also in Bechuanaland, Marloth 3788, flowering in November. 



This plant has until lately been confused with Aloe ferox, but is now recognised 

 as a distinct species, and may probably prove to be the variety " incurvata," which 

 at the time the description of A. ferox was written was only known from " young 

 plants in Mr. Cooper's collection." The dried sap which was kindly obtained for 

 me by Mr. T. W, Turner was sent to Mr. B. M. Holmes the Curator of the Museum 

 of the Pharmaceutical Society in London, and he says : " The piece you sent me 

 " gives no colour reaction with either nitric or sulphuric acid, and cannot therefore 

 " be identical (as regarded from the chemical point of view) with Aloe ferox, since 

 " the dried juice of that Aloe gives a crimson with nitric acid." 



Plate 579. Fig. 1, base of leaf, natural size ; 2, branches of inflorescence, 

 reduced; 3, raceme; 4, a flower; 5, pistil; 6, cross section of ovary ; figs. 4, 5, 6, 

 enlarged. 



Plate 580. Fig. 1, plant, much reduced; 2, leaf, about half natural size; 3, 

 fl,nther, back and front view, enlarged, 



