Plate 62. 



aloe excelsa. 



Rhodesia. 



Liliaceae. Tribe Aloineae. 

 Aloe, Linn. ; Benih. et Hooh.f. Gen. Plant, vol. iii. p. 776. 



Aloe exeelsa, Berger in Notizblatt Berl. Bot. Gart. u. Museums, vol. iv. (1906) 

 247; Das PJlanzenreich, vol. iv. 38, p. 314. 



This arborescent Aloe forms one of the most conspicuous 

 features of the vegetation of the Matoppos in Rhodesia in 

 July and August, when it brightens up the Kopjes with its 

 crimson flowers. Full-grown plants vary in height from 

 15-20 feet, and one of their chief characteristics is the grace- 

 ful recurving of the ends of the leaves. Our illustration is 

 made from one of the many plants of this species which adorn 

 the rockeries of the Union Buildings, and which were col- 

 lected by Mr. J. Wickens on the Matoppos. The plants 

 thrive well in Pretoria, and attract consideration through 

 their deep carmine inflorescence. They flower in Pretoria 

 during August and September. 



Specimens are preserved in the National Herbarium 

 (Herb. No. 1453). 



Description : — Aborescent up to 5-6*3 m. high. Stems 

 about 3-4 cm. in diameter. Leaves crowded and forming a 

 rosette at the end of the stem up to 0*2 m. long, 8-9 cm. 

 broad at the base, gradually narrowing to the apex, lanceolate- 

 ovate, acuminate, with the uppermost third gracefully re- 

 curved, deeply channelled above, convex beneath, with spines 

 along the margin and with spines on the under surface ; 

 spines 4 mm. long, 5 mm. apart below and about 2*6 cm. 

 apart on the upper portion of the leaf. Inflorescence a panicle ; 

 peduncle 13-16 cm. long, compressed, convex on both sur- 

 faces, with a prominent ridge on either side. Bracts ovate, 

 acute, membranous. Ultimate racemes 22-25 cm. long, 5*5 cm. 

 in diameter, cylindric, densely many-flowered. Floral-bracts 



