Aloe (Aloe betsileensis)

Aloe
Aloe betsileensis

January, southern California

Another image from our gardens! WOW!

yes, an amazing plant. Mine is finally blooming, too, but is not nearly as impressive as yours. Someday...

Magnificent plant!

This does not look like true betsileensis, which has taller and less-branched flower spikes and pure yellow flowers.

As I only have my own to compare it to, I can't comment, but mine does have a simple inflorescence of one flower (but it's also its first year).

I am still not at all certain of the ID. When Geoff Stein (Palm Bob) visited our gardens I suggested that I thought it might be A. betsileensis, indicating uncertainty. I am not an Aloe expert. That is in spite of fact that I care for quite a lot of them. I do enjoy having the most beautiful plants I can lay my hands on and that is most important to us in our gardens and greenhouses.

I believe this plant is one of the more beautiful and desirable medium-sized Aloes irrespective of its species. I have considered the possibility that it is a hybrid. I became interested in trying to learn more about it because of its simple beauty and easy care here in North San Diego County. I could perhaps find some more of these if I could learn the true identity. I have 4 clones of true betsileensis acquired from one of the most reliable Aloe specialists in the USA. I thought for some time that the subject image could have some conifera DNA, that is no longer considered a likelihood.

I verified as much as is practicable the ID of the actual plant that Geoff imaged, using the most reliable reference and one that I have used when I have had time to research for the last 30 years for tropical Africa and Madagascar Aloes.



Here are excerpts of G.W. Reynolds description of the plant which was first published from his field observations of both mature and immature plants at a locality he discovered between 83 and 102 km South of Ihosy on the road to Betroka, Madagascar in the late 1950's.

...20-30 leaves in average specimens - 50 in very large plants. densely rosulate - spreading- ascending 30-40 cm long. (reflected in imaged specimen)..... 7-9 cm broad at base narrowing to apex which slightly twisted, obtusely rounded and shortly toothed. Upper surface dull green with reddish tinge, without spots or markings. Flat on top to slightly canalculate (canal form), lower surface convex similar to upper surface; margins with reddish edge armed with deltoid, pungent, reddish teeth 2-3mm, long and 8-12mm. apart; sap dries yellow... all foregoing is verifiably evident on imaged specimen.

...Inflorescence simple and 60cm high in young plants, 3-4 branched and 70--80 cm, high in old specimens, sometimes 5-branched and over 1m. high in very large plants..... verifiable on imaged specimen.

..Peduncle robust, brown with a bloom, plano-convex and 3-4cm broad at base, more slender upwards, with 1-4 branches from about the middle, clothed below the racemes with several fleshy sterile bracts that are 10-12mm long and broad low down, smaller upwards... all foregoing is verifiable on imaged specimen.

....Racemes cylindric 30-35 cm long, 4-5cm diam., the lateral a little shorter, very densely multiflowered, the flowers arranged in 13 spirally twisted rows, the flowers orange and opening first on the sunny side , ....all buds visible and not hidden by bracts. foregoing is verifiable when young age is considered on imaged specimen.

...Bracts ovate-obtuse, fleshy, reddish all foregoing is verifiable on imaged specimen when in flower.

...Pedicals - none
....Perianth cylindric slightly campanulate,....yellow with orange tips .....average 15 mm long, 7mm across. ...copious amounts of clear nector. all foregoing is verifiable on imaged specimen when in flower.

Some of the above details cannot be verified in the above image alone, but most are visible during the flowering process. The images are of a young plant in its second year of flowering. Peduncles nor compact racemes are not as well developed as the hardened mature in situ plants pictured in Fig. 504 and 505 of G.W. Reynolds reference monochrome photographs on p 481 of THE ALOES OF TROPICAL AFRICA AND MADAGASCAR. The similarities are in evidence but the lack of raceme bud compaction and peduncle length are differences in the images in his photos.

In response to Zigur comment about yellow flowers - I have seen stages of flowering when there is more yellow. The lighter colored horizontal region of the racimes is the open flowers. I believe if this plant was in full sun these would be more yellow.

In response to Zigure comment about the number of flower spikes (peduncles), again, I believe these would be more robust if the plant was not shadowed till about 10 AM in the flowering season. Also, although the description does indicate multiple peduncles and the pictures in Reynolds validated multiplicity of peduncle branches.

Here is an image of the plant captured this morning (12-30-08), slightly pumped from over 5" inches of rain this month (Dec. 2008) (the coldest December on record for this region of North San Diego County). Note there are 2 clusters of flower buds with multiple tips forming. This also is in keeping with Reynolds description of multiplicity.

I vigorously pollinated these flowers last year. They are quite difficult, but I have germinated multiple plants from the crosses. I crossed this with single-headed A. affinis. I have sown seed from both parents and these are just now beginning to germinate.

Now that I know how to grow this plant I will be moving the 4 other clones into a different environments.

I posted images of some other clones of species betsileensis (not yet flowering) on the PF betsileensis thread.


Bob






This message was edited Dec 30, 2008 4:35 PM

looks like another great bloom this year