Aloe petricola
Encyclopedia
Aloe petricola belongs to the Aloe
genus in the Xanthorrhoeaceae
family, and is commonly known as a stone aloe. This particular aloe is a flowering species with unique and distinct inflorescence
s, which make the plant easy to identify and distinguish from other Aloe plants. Aloe petricola is very popular for gardening because of its beautiful and radiant colors. Like many Aloe species, Aloe petricola is used for medical purposes, as it aids in healing wounds and minor burns.
s can reach about 4 feet, surpassing the height of the plant's fleshy leaves. This succulent plant
is virtually stemless and has rosettes of blue-green colored leaves. These leaves contain thorns on their surfaces and have short, triangular toothed margins. A mature plant can have up to six branches of flowers, which are long, skinny, densely flowered racemes, carried on stout stems. The inflorescence
s are tightly packed with dark brown antlers, and typically include at least two colors, usually a deep red towards the top where the buds are seen, and cream-yellow color at the bottom towards the base, reaching the stem of the flower. Flowers on the Aloe petricola plant are tube-shaped and about 30mm long. The colors on these plants are bright and vibrant, and they change as they begin to open, revealing more of the yellow color towards the bottom.
that is either acidic, neutral (pH=7), or very slightly basic. It also grows in different soil types, from clay-like soils to sandy soils. This makes maintenance of the plant nearly effortless given the right environment. Aloe petricola is a greatly desired plant for most gardeners because it is considered an undemanding garden plant. Aside from its simple upkeep, this aloe grows quite well in cultivation and looks outstanding either on its own or bunched in groups. The plant's striking and luminous red, yellow, green, and white colors stand out, while they add beauty and elegance to any garden.
, specifically in Mpumalanga
. This aloe tends to grow in rocky locations, where the plant is surrounded in stones, and the soil is only covering the roots. The name “petricola” was given to the plant suggesting that it lives and thrives in rocky places. The word breaks up into ‘petri,’ which means stones, and ‘cola,’ which means fond of. Aloe petricola plants are often pollinated
by sunbird
s, which use them as food plants as they seek nectar in their flowers. This plant is also widely used in medicine. Aloes, most commonly Aloe vera
, are known for treating minor wounds and burns. Aloe petricola plants, however, have sap
filled leaves which, for centuries, have been frequently used as a remedy to heal stomach ailments.
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"....
genus in the Xanthorrhoeaceae
Xanthorrhoeaceae
Xanthorrhoeaceae is the botanical name of a family of flowering plants in the order Asparagales. Such a family has been recognized by most taxonomists, but the circumscription of the family has varied wildly....
family, and is commonly known as a stone aloe. This particular aloe is a flowering species with unique and distinct inflorescence
Inflorescence
An inflorescence is a group or cluster of flowers arranged on a stem that is composed of a main branch or a complicated arrangement of branches. Strictly, it is the part of the shoot of seed plants where flowers are formed and which is accordingly modified...
s, which make the plant easy to identify and distinguish from other Aloe plants. Aloe petricola is very popular for gardening because of its beautiful and radiant colors. Like many Aloe species, Aloe petricola is used for medical purposes, as it aids in healing wounds and minor burns.
Description
Aloe petricola is a medium sized plant that grows fairly low to the ground. This plant reaches anywhere from 18-24 inches in height and can reach a little over a meter in width, while its inflorescenceInflorescence
An inflorescence is a group or cluster of flowers arranged on a stem that is composed of a main branch or a complicated arrangement of branches. Strictly, it is the part of the shoot of seed plants where flowers are formed and which is accordingly modified...
s can reach about 4 feet, surpassing the height of the plant's fleshy leaves. This succulent plant
Succulent plant
Succulent plants, also known as succulents or fat plants, are water-retaining plants adapted to arid climates or soil conditions. Succulent plants store water in their leaves, stems, and also in roots...
is virtually stemless and has rosettes of blue-green colored leaves. These leaves contain thorns on their surfaces and have short, triangular toothed margins. A mature plant can have up to six branches of flowers, which are long, skinny, densely flowered racemes, carried on stout stems. The inflorescence
Inflorescence
An inflorescence is a group or cluster of flowers arranged on a stem that is composed of a main branch or a complicated arrangement of branches. Strictly, it is the part of the shoot of seed plants where flowers are formed and which is accordingly modified...
s are tightly packed with dark brown antlers, and typically include at least two colors, usually a deep red towards the top where the buds are seen, and cream-yellow color at the bottom towards the base, reaching the stem of the flower. Flowers on the Aloe petricola plant are tube-shaped and about 30mm long. The colors on these plants are bright and vibrant, and they change as they begin to open, revealing more of the yellow color towards the bottom.
Growth and gardening
Aloe petricola grows best in early to mid winter, but flowers on this plant typically do not bloom until mid summer, and are seen at their best towards the end of July and beginning of August in the northern hemisphere. Like almost all other aloes, Aloe petricola is drought resistant, meaning that it needs little to no water to survive. This resistance is due to the fact that the leaves of this plant can store water, so they can essentially take care of themselves, making this plant ideal for any gardener. Additional growth requirements for this succulent plant include a soil pHPH
In chemistry, pH is a measure of the acidity or basicity of an aqueous solution. Pure water is said to be neutral, with a pH close to 7.0 at . Solutions with a pH less than 7 are said to be acidic and solutions with a pH greater than 7 are basic or alkaline...
that is either acidic, neutral (pH=7), or very slightly basic. It also grows in different soil types, from clay-like soils to sandy soils. This makes maintenance of the plant nearly effortless given the right environment. Aloe petricola is a greatly desired plant for most gardeners because it is considered an undemanding garden plant. Aside from its simple upkeep, this aloe grows quite well in cultivation and looks outstanding either on its own or bunched in groups. The plant's striking and luminous red, yellow, green, and white colors stand out, while they add beauty and elegance to any garden.
Other Information
Aloe petricola is native in South AfricaSouth 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...
, specifically in Mpumalanga
Mpumalanga
Mpumalanga , is a province of South Africa. The name means east or literally "the place where the sun rises" in Swazi, Xhosa, Ndebele and Zulu. Mpumalanga lies in eastern South Africa, north of KwaZulu-Natal and bordering Swaziland and Mozambique. It constitutes 6.5% of South Africa's land area...
. This aloe tends to grow in rocky locations, where the plant is surrounded in stones, and the soil is only covering the roots. The name “petricola” was given to the plant suggesting that it lives and thrives in rocky places. The word breaks up into ‘petri,’ which means stones, and ‘cola,’ which means fond of. Aloe petricola plants are often pollinated
Pollination
Pollination is the process by which pollen is transferred in plants, thereby enabling fertilisation and sexual reproduction. Pollen grains transport the male gametes to where the female gamete are contained within the carpel; in gymnosperms the pollen is directly applied to the ovule itself...
by sunbird
Sunbird
The sunbirds and spiderhunters are a family, Nectariniidae, of very small passerine birds. There are 132 species in 15 genera. The family is distributed throughout Africa, southern Asia and just reaches northern Australia. Most sunbirds feed largely on nectar, but also take insects and spiders,...
s, which use them as food plants as they seek nectar in their flowers. This plant is also widely used in medicine. Aloes, most commonly Aloe vera
Aloe vera
Aloe vera, pronounced , also known as the true aloe or medicinal aloe, is a species of succulent plant in the genus Aloe that is believed to have originated in the Sudan. Aloe vera grows in arid climates and is widely distributed in Africa, India, Nepal and other arid areas.The species is...
, are known for treating minor wounds and burns. Aloe petricola plants, however, have sap
Plant sap
Sap is a fluid transported in xylem cells or phloem sieve tube elements of a plant. It transports water and nutrients throughout the plant....
filled leaves which, for centuries, have been frequently used as a remedy to heal stomach ailments.