Aloe decumbens
Encyclopedia
Aloe decumbens is a sprawling, rambling aloe
that is endemic to the fynbos vegetation of the Langeberg Mountains near Riversdale
in the Western Cape
, South Africa
.
This aloe
is decumbent - as its name suggests - and its long, thin branches sprawl along the ground and over the rocky outcrops where it grows. Its bright scarlet flowers appear on and off throughout the year, regardless of season.
This rambling aloe is sometimes described as being merely an isolated subspecies of Aloe gracilis
which occurs much further east in the area around Port Elizabeth.
Aloe decumbens is also clearly a close relative of Aloe juddii
which similarly occurs only in an isolated pocket of fynbos vegetation, further west near Cape Agulhas
. However, among other key differences, Aloe decumbens is a much thinner and more decumbent species.
Aloe ser. Macrifoliae
Aloe ser. Macrifoliae is a taxonomic series within the genus Aloe, comprising seven closely related species of Southern African climbing aloe. These aloes are typically multi-branched climbing or sprawling shrubs, with long spindly stems and a large woody base on the ground...
that is endemic to the fynbos vegetation of the Langeberg Mountains near Riversdale
Riversdale
Riversdale was the last home of William Butler Yeats. It is located in the Dublin suburb of Rathfarnham off the Ballyboden Road.-W. B. Yeats:He took a 13-year lease on the house in 1932. He lived there with his wife and children...
in the Western Cape
Western Cape
The Western Cape is a province in the south west of South Africa. The capital is Cape Town. Prior to 1994, the region that now forms the Western Cape was part of the much larger Cape Province...
, South Africa
South Africa
The Republic of South Africa is a country in southern Africa. Located at the southern tip of Africa, it is divided into nine provinces, with of coastline on the Atlantic and Indian oceans...
.
This aloe
Aloe
Aloe , also Aloë, is a genus containing about 500 species of flowering succulent plants. The most common and well known of these is Aloe vera, or "true aloe"....
is decumbent - as its name suggests - and its long, thin branches sprawl along the ground and over the rocky outcrops where it grows. Its bright scarlet flowers appear on and off throughout the year, regardless of season.
This rambling aloe is sometimes described as being merely an isolated subspecies of Aloe gracilis
Aloe gracilis
Aloe gracilis is a climbing aloe, endemic to the area around the city of Port Elizabeth, South Africa. Its natural range lies just to the west of the related climbing aloe Aloe ciliaris, and it occurs in bushy fynbos and thickets, and clustered on rocky outcrops at all altitudes.-Appearance:Its...
which occurs much further east in the area around Port Elizabeth.
Aloe decumbens is also clearly a close relative of Aloe juddii
Aloe juddii
Aloe juddii is a newly discovered climbing aloe that is native to a few rocky outcrops and a farm , near to Cape Agulhas in the Western Cape, South Africa....
which similarly occurs only in an isolated pocket of fynbos vegetation, further west near Cape Agulhas
Cape Agulhas
Cape Agulhas is a rocky headland in the Western Cape, South Africa. It is the geographic southern tip of Africa and the official dividing point between the Atlantic and Indian oceans...
. However, among other key differences, Aloe decumbens is a much thinner and more decumbent species.