Aloe squarrosa

Aloe squarrosa is a species of flowering plant in the Asphodelaceae family.[2] It is from the island of Socotra, Yemen.

Aloe squarrosa
Aloe squarrosa, botanical description
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Plantae
Clade: Tracheophytes
Clade: Angiosperms
Clade: Monocots
Order: Asparagales
Family: Asphodelaceae
Subfamily: Asphodeloideae
Genus: Aloe
Species:
A. squarrosa
Binomial name
Aloe squarrosa
Synonyms[2]

Aloe zanzibarica Milne-Redh.
Aloe concinna Baker

Distribution and habitat
Aloe squarrosa in cultivation in Kew Gardens, London

Aloe squarrosa is endemic to the island of Socotra, Yemen. It is one of three Aloe species that are indigenous to this island, the other two being Aloe perryi and Aloe jawiyon.

The natural habitat of Aloe squarrosa is limestone cliff-faces and rocky areas. It is threatened by habitat destruction and is destroyed by goat herding.[1]

Identification
Aloe squarrosa in cultivation, under the '"zanzibarica"' label.

Aloe squarrosa has smooth, green, spotted leaves that curve backwards. These recurved leaves are kept only around the head or top of each stem, with dead leaves falling off the lower parts of the stem. The inflorescence is short and simple, and the flowers are light orange with green tips. It is relatively rare in cultivation.

It is frequently confused with Aloe juvenna from Kenya. However the commoner Aloe juvenna has shorter, straight, non-recurved triangular leaves and grows long stems, with the leaves retained all along the stems.

References
  1. Miller, A. (2004). "Aloe squarrosa". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. 2004: e.T44898A10951673. doi:10.2305/IUCN.UK.2004.RLTS.T44898A10951673.en. Retrieved 9 January 2020.
  2. "Aloe squarrosa Baker ex Balf.f." Plants of the World Online. The Trustees of the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew. n.d. Retrieved July 26, 2020.
  3. "Aloe squarrosa Baker ex Balf.f." World Flora Online. The World Flora Online Consortium. n.d. Retrieved July 26, 2020.


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