Aloe inyangensis is a succulent 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"....

 plant species, found only in the mountainous Eastern Highlands

Eastern Highlands

The Eastern or 'East African Highlands is a mountain range in the east of Zimbabwe and one of 4 distinct physiographic divisions on the African continent.-Location and description:...

 of Zimbabwe

Zimbabwe

Zimbabwe is a landlocked country located in the southern part of the African continent, between the Zambezi and Limpopo rivers. It is bordered by South Africa to the south, Botswana to the southwest, Zambia and a tip of Namibia to the northwest and Mozambique to the east. Zimbabwe has three...

. It grows best in shady conditions but in some areas is also found in the open in heaths on mountain tops. There are two subspecies: the relatively flimsy A. inyangensis inyangensis commoner in the northern part of the range; and the sturdier A. inyangensis kimberleyana towards the southern end of its range.

Appearance

This aloe is a small herbaceous plant with stiff, succulent strap-shaped leaves that belie the humid and perennially wet conditions that it grows under. It grows in rather untidy-looking clumps up to 20-30 cm high. The leaves are thin, about 18-28 cm long and often bent forwards along the central vein.
Unlike most aloe species, A inyangensis blooms throughout the year. The flowers are a very attractive crimson colour, borne on 30 cm curved stalks above the foliage.

Distribution

The plant is strictly confined to woodland and wet forest on mountain sides above 1500 m altitude from just north of Nyanga

Nyanga

Nyanga may mean:*Nyanga Province, of Gabon*Nyanga, Gabon, a place in the province of Nyanga in Gabon*Nyanga River, in Gabon and Congo*Nyanga, Zimbabwe, a town*Nyanga National Park in Zimbabwe*Nyanga, Cape Town, a township in South Africa...

 southwards to Mount Rupere and Mount Ruinji near Stapleford

Stapleford

Stapleford can refer to a number of locations in England:*Stapleford Abbotts*Stapleford Tawney**Stapleford Aerodrome*Stapleford, Cambridgeshire*Stapleford, Devon*Stapleford, Hampshire*Stapleford, Hertfordshire*Stapleford, Leicestershire...

 in northern Manicaland

Manicaland

Manicaland is a province of Zimbabwe. It has an area of and a population of approximately 1.6 million . Mutare is the capital of the province. -Background:...

. It grows almost up to the summit of Mount Inyangani. Another population occurs about 40 km further south on and around the Castle Beacon mountain in the Bvumba mountains.
Despite its limited distribution it is relatively common in its own environment and specimens are relatively easy to spot.