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Aloe longistyla (A
young specimen)
A. longistyla is one of the smallest species with blue-grey waxy
leaves edged in soft white/pink teeth.
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Leaves are blue-grey green,
unspotted and bordered by red teeth and form a spiralled rosette
at the stem apex in old plants, but in juvenile plants they are ranked
in vertical rows. |
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Aloe longistyla
grows well in cultivation, provided it has frost protection.
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Family: Asphodelaceae
Scientific name:
Aloe longistyla
Baker.
Cactus Succ. J., Las Ang. 19: 54-55.
Common Names include: Karoo Aloe, Ramenas, Aloe
Origin: South Africa (Southern and Eastern Cape
province: Little Karoo and western Great Karoo)
Habitat: Aloe
longistyla grows in arid areas, in sandy soils or on flat stony places
and on sloping hill sides.
Etymology: The specific epithet "longistyla"
refers to the long style which protrude from the mouth of the flower.
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Description: Aloe longistyla is a smaller
plant with upright habit that in time of drought it tends to curl in on
itself. It is very slow to sucker if at all. Individual rosettes not
exceeding 20 cm in diameter. Sometime older plants clusters forming
group up 10 loose rosettes, up to 25 cm in diameter (or more)
Stem: Stemless
Leaves: Approx 20-30, in a compact spiralled
rosette at the stem apex in old plants, but in juvenile plants they are
ranked in vertical rows. Leaves are upright, lanceolate,
grey-green to blue-green with a waxy-like surface. Leaves are covered
with white, thick, soft to firm, teeth (3-4 mm wide) on lower surface
and margins approx 5 mm apart. The teeth base is tubercular.
Flowers: Huge if compared to the foliage, they are usually borne
on a relatively short stalked (15-20 cm tall) single raceme just above
the leaf tips. The flowers forms a conical raceme 11x11 cm wide, with
40-50 salmon pink to coral flower. The flowers are tubular 50-55 mm
long, with a rounded base up to 8 cm across and curve upward on the
upper 1/3. They have unusually long protruding stamens up to 25 mm long.
Pedicel 6-8 mm long,
Blooming season: Late winter.
Fruit: The flowers are followed by large grey fruit capsules.
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Cultivation: Easy to grow, requiring
very little care. It can be grown in large containers. Always use a good
quality, loamy sandy soil with plenty of drainage chips at the bottom of
containers. It tolerates weekly watering in the summer; once a month, or
not at all in the colder months of December and January. Can withstand
long periods of drought, but they will thrive and flower more profusely
if watered in the correct season. Incorrect watering, poor drainage or
too much shade can lead to attack by pests and diseases. They can take a
few degrees of frost in winter as well, but prefer hot summers. It grows
much better outdoors in spring and summer.
In mild climates it can be cultivated outdoors for use in landscaping,
preferably planting it in hot and dry rock gardens. They will grow best
in regions with a climate close to that of their native deserts
not too cold, and not too wet.
Propagation: Almost
exclusively by seeds planted in autumn, in trays of coarse river sand.
Uses:
- Gardening: Well suited to a rock
garden, on a sloping bank or even in containers. Plant in bold clumps.
It is a very rewarding plant, especially in winter when the flowers
add a fiery glow to an otherwise drab garden.
This fine little Aloe obtained its name because
of the very long
styles, which may be seen protruding from the throat of the flowers in
winter. |
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