Aloestrela

Aloestrela is a genus of flowering plants belonging to the family Asphodelaceae.[3] This genus is named in honour of Professor Dr Estrela Figueiredo of the Department of Botany of the Nelson Mandela University.[4] It contains the sole species Aloestrela suzannae (Decary) Molteno & Gideon F.Sm., endemic to Madagascar.[3] Aloestrela suzannae is an endangered species indigenous to the south of Madagascar.[5][6]

Aloestrela
Aloe suzannae at the Conservatoire botanique national de Brest, France
CITES Appendix I (CITES)[2]
Scientific classification Edit this classification
Kingdom: Plantae
Clade: Tracheophytes
Clade: Angiosperms
Clade: Monocots
Order: Asparagales
Family: Asphodelaceae
Genus: Aloestrela
Molteno & Gideon F.Sm.
Species:
A. suzannae
Binomial name
Aloestrela suzannae
(Decary) Molteno & Gideon F.Sm.
Synonyms

Aloe suzannae Decary

Description

It is exceptional in its genus in having nocturnal fragrant flowers, presumably pollinated by nocturnal animals such as bats and small lemurs. It flowers very rarely, but the inflorescence is exceptionally long and lasts for over a month. Its long tubular leaves are relatively soft and rubbery in texture, with rounded tips, and can assume a pink or turquoise colour. Aloestrela suzannae is extremely slow-growing, but eventually becomes tall and arborescent.[7] It has been observed in the wild with flowers open during the day. There has never been an observation of lemur pollination on A. suzannae and flying insects were observed visiting the flowers. Many plants were observed in flower in late July and early August in situ.

Distribution

This aloe is endemic to Madagascar, occurring in the dryer south and south-west of the island (Ambosary and Itampolo). Here it grows in sandy soil near the coast, or among rocks.[8]

References
  1. Rakotoarisoa, S.E. (2016). "Aloe suzannae". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. 2016: e.T39057A67039967. doi:10.2305/IUCN.UK.2016-3.RLTS.T39057A67039967.en. Retrieved 16 November 2021.
  2. "Appendices | CITES". cites.org. Retrieved 2022-01-14.
  3. "Aloestrela Molteno & Gideon F.Sm. | Plants of the World Online | Kew Science". Plants of the World Online. Retrieved 17 March 2021.
  4. Gideon F. Smith; Steven Molteno (1 May 2019). "Aloestrela Molteno & Gideon F.Sm. (Asphodelaceae: Alooideae), a new alooid genus with A. suzannae (Decary) Molteno & Gideon F.Sm. as the only species". Bradleya. 2019 (37): 3. doi:10.25223/BRAD.N37.2019.A2. ISSN 0265-086X. Wikidata Q115486477.
  5. "Plants: Species". Archived from the original on 2014-04-10. Retrieved 2014-10-22.
  6. "Introduction to Tree Aloes, part 1: The solitary, unbranched species - Dave's Garden".
  7. Reynolds. T., ed. (2005). Aloes - the genus Aloe. Boca Raton, London, New York, Washington, D.C.: CRC Press. p. 8. ISBN 9780203476345. Retrieved 30 January 2014.
  8. "Alöe suzannae".
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