Aloe sect. Lomatophyllum

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.

Aloe sect. Lomatophyllum
Aloe tormentorii, a "Lomatophyllum" aloe from Mauritius
Scientific classification Edit this classification
Kingdom: Plantae
Clade: Tracheophytes
Clade: Angiosperms
Clade: Monocots
Order: Asparagales
Family: Asphodelaceae
Subfamily: Asphodeloideae
Genus: Aloe
Section: Aloe sect. Lomatophyllum
G.D.Rowley
Species

See text

Synonyms

Lomatophyllum Willd.

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

References
Wikimedia Commons has media related to Lomatophyllum.
  1. U.Eggli: Illustrated Handbook of Succulent Plants: Monocotyledons. Springer Science & Business Media. 2001.
  2. 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.
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