Clade Monocots | Clade Angiosperms Rank Species | |
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Similar Aloe thraskii, Aloe africana, Aloe excelsa, Aloe plicatilis, Aloe marlothii | ||
Aloe speciosa (the Tilt-headed Aloe) is an arborescent aloe indigenous to the thicket vegetation of the southern Cape Provinces of South Africa.
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Description
The Tilt-headed Aloe is so named because of the way that its rosette tilts to one side, in the direction of the greatest sun. In its habitat, this is usually to the north (meaning that it acts as a natural compass). It is a tall arborescent aloe species, with long, thin, drooping, pale blue-green leaves, that are densely clustered around its tilted rosette. The pinkish leaf margins are lined with reddish teeth.
Several short, cylindrical, single-branched inflorescences appear in the early spring, when it flowers. The dense flowers are red or green with white stripes. The Latin name "speciosa" means showy, and was actually given in reference to its ornamental flowers. The species is also known as Aloe hexapetala - also in reference to its flowers ("hexa-petala" means "six-petaled").
Distribution and habitat
The Tilt-headed Aloe is found in a wide belt from near Swellendam in the Western Cape to the border of the Transkei in the Eastern Cape, South Africa.
Here its habitat is often dense thickets, especially the Albany Thicket Biome. It often grows in association with Aloe ferox, A. africana and A. pluridens, and hybrids can occur.