Aloe sect. Lomatophyllum explained

Aloe sect. Lomatophyllum is a taxonomic section within the genus Aloe, comprising between 12 and 18 closely related species of Aloe from Madagascar and the Mascareigne islands.

These species are distinguished by their having fleshy berries of unwinged seeds (unlike the other Aloe species which bear dehiscent capsules of winged seeds).^{[1] [2]}

Description

The Aloes of this section are all shrubby and form short stems, topped with succulent lanceolate leaves. The flowers appear in racemes and range in colour from orange or yellow to red. The plants produce fleshy berries which contain the seeds.

Distribution

The species of this section are all located on the islands of the Indian Ocean. Most are restricted to the island of Madagascar. A minority are indigenous to the smaller islands of Reunion, Mauritius, Rodrigues, Aldabra and Pemba. These form a clade that likely radiated from Madagascar following the roots of the major ocean currents. Most of the species of the smaller Indian Ocean islands grow on beaches or very near to the coast. In some parts of their distribution, they are locally known as "Mazambrons".^[3]

Species

• Aloe aldabrensis (Marais) - indigenous to West Island, Aldabra Atoll, Seychelles.
• Aloe citrea (Guillaumin) - Madagascar
• Aloe lomatophylloides (Balf.f.) - endemic to the island of Rodrigues.
• Aloe purpurea (Lamark) - endemic to the island of Mauritius.
• Aloe tormentorii (Marais) - endemic to the island of Mauritius.
• Aloe macra (Haworth) - endemic to the island of Réunion.
• Aloe mayottensis (Berger) - Comoros islands
• Aloe alexandrei (Ellert) - Comoros islands
• Aloe namorokaensis (Rauh.) - Madagascar
• Aloe occidentalis (H.Perr.) - Western half of Madagascar
• Aloe oligophylla (Baker) - Madagascar
• Aloe orientalis (H.Perr.) - Eastern half of Madagascar
• Aloe pembana (Newton) - Pemba Island
• Aloe propagulifera (Rauh) - Madagascar
• Aloe prostrata (Perrier) - Madagascar
• Aloe rosea (Perrier) - Madagascar
• Aloe sakarahensis (Lavranos) - Madagascar
• Aloe socialis (Perrier) - Madagascar
• Aloe viviparum (Perrier) - Madagascar

Notes and References

1. U.Eggli: Illustrated Handbook of Succulent Plants: Monocotyledons. Springer Science & Business Media. 2001.
2. http://www.lansiv-kreol.net/environ_mazanbron01.htm Comparison of Lomatophyllum aloes of Reunion and Mauritius (in French)
3. Wessel Marais : The extra-Madagascan species of Lomatophyllum (Liliaceae). In: Kew Bulletin. Band 29, Nummer 4, 1974.