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Botanical name |
Aloe polyphylla |
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Other names |
Spiral aloe; kroonaalwyn (Afrikaans); lekhala kharatsa (seSotho) |
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Family |
Asphodelaceae |
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Dimensions |
A stemless aloe with a wide, single rosette, having comparatively many leaves in the mature phase as the name indicates; the characteristic and attractive spiral leaf pattern is notable; the spiralling becomes distinctly evident once the rosette is about 25 cm in diameter; a rosette can exceed 50 cm in diameter |
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Description of stem |
Absent; does not produce sucker off-shoots |
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Description of leaves |
Comparatively short, squat leaves of up to 30 cm; smooth grey-green to sometimes yellow-green leaves with sharp, irregular marginal teeth and a distinctive dark to black spike at the apex; often displays a keel (ridge) on the outer leaf surface, positioned off-centre; the leaves in a mature plant are arranged in five spiralling ranks, in either clockwise or anticlockwise formation |
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Description of flowers |
The inflorescence is up to 60 cm tall, branching just above the rosette into several erect racemes; long, pink or pale red perianths pointing obliquely upwards during the bud stage, pendulous when open; the raceme is capitate; flowering occurs in spring (a USA record of flowering in autumn has been noted) |
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Desciption of seed/fruit |
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Description of roots |
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Variation |
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Propagation and cultivation |
Grown from seed with reasonable success, seed germination in vitro in agar or gelatin has been mentioned; said to not be lasting well in cultivation, especially when grown from tissue culture; needs water, comparatively low temperatures and care with the soil mix, (pot mix with orchid bark and washed pumice mentioned); does not readily flower in cultivation; when grown at lower altitudes it may be attacked by more pests |
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Tolerances |
Adapted to a special wet, cold, montane habitat that is hard to replicate |
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Uses |
Popular garden plant, although not easily made to flourish; may be used in indigenous medicine |
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Ecological rarity |
Threatened by collectors' ardour compounded by local population selling of specimens from the natural habitat; threat from agricultural activities has also been mentioned; CITES listed as endangered |
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Pests and diseases |
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Other |
Grown in Southern Australia with more success than in South Africa? Some USA growers also have success, one reported flowering within six years from germination; the flowers are said to be pollinated by the malachite sunbird, another endangered species! |
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Location |
High altitude grassy mountain slopes in high rainfall, misty areas, often covered by winter snow; not conditions easily replicated in many gardens |
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Distribution |
Mountainous areas of Lesotho; possibly in SA border areas of Free State and Kwazulu-Natal |
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Country |
Lesotho, South Africa |