Aloe khamiesensis subsp. knersvlakensis (S.J.Marais) Klopper, 2023

Klopper, Ronell R., Grace, Olwen M., Klopper, Arrie W., Smith, Gideon F. & Van, Abraham E., 2023, A taxonomic revision of Aloe sect. Purpurascentes (Asphodelaceae subfam. Alooideae), Phytotaxa 628 (1), pp. 1921-1935 : 1921-1935

3c. Aloe khamiesensis subsp. knersvlakensis (S.J.Marais) Klopper comb. et stat. nov. ( Fig. 13 )

Basionym:— Aloe knersvlakensis Marais (2010: 96) . Type:— SOUTH AFRICA, Western Cape: Knersvlakte, Namaqualand (between Vanrhynsdorp and Nuwerus), Jakkalsdraai , no date, S.J. Marais s.n. (holotype NBG! NBG0207177-1 to NBG0207177-9 [9 sheets]).

Description:— Shortly caulescent plants. Stem simple or usually densely branched, up to ± 1.5 m, erect to decumbent, with persistent dried leaves; rosettes solitary or densely clustered around main stem. Leaves densely rosulate, usually incurved, dull green to reddish brown, with clear longitudinal lines, sometimes without spots, usually with few to many white spots on both surfaces, lower surface often with fewer spots, lanceolate-attenuate, 30–40 cm long, 5–8 cm wide; margin with deltoid, pungent, reddish brown teeth, 1–2 mm long, 7–14 mm apart; exudate yellowish green, drying dark brownish yellow. Inflorescences 2 or 3 simultaneously, up to 0.73 m high, erect, 2- to 4-branched from below middle, branches arcuate-erect. Peduncle 1.6–2.7 cm and somewhat plano-convex below, terete upwards, yellowgreen; with many sterile bracts below racemes, ovate, long acuminate, 22–25(–31) mm long, 22–25 mm wide, pale brown, scarious, many-nerved. Racemes long conical, (22–) 33–43 cm long, 7–9 cm wide, erect, dense; flower buds erect to spreading, flowers nodding to pendent when open. Floral bracts ovate-acute, basally amplexicaul, 11–13 mm long, 4–5 mm wide at base, pale, scarious. Pedicels up to 27 mm long, yellow. Flowers: perianth orange-red in bud, yellow, greenish tipped when mature, ± 28 mm long, ± 5 mm across ovary, slightly widening towards middle, slightly narrowing towards mouth, cylindric-trigonous; outer segment tips slightly spreading; stamens with filiform flattened filaments, included portion lemon, excluded portion turning deep brown, exserted to 5 mm; ovary 8 mm long, 3 mm diameter, green; style yellow, exserted 5–6 mm.

Diagnostic characters:— Aloe khamiesensis subsp. knersvlakensis is easily distinguished by its relatively short erect stem that is covered in numerous rosettes in older plants, and its branched inflorescence. Leaves usually have few to many spots on both surfaces and are often clearly lineate, with reddish brown marginal teeth 1–2 mm long. Inflorescences are 2- to 4-branched with buds orange-red and yellow flowers. Flowers are on average 28 mm long. Leaf exudate does not dry purple (dries dark brownish yellow).

Distribution:— Only known from one locality near Kliprand, Western Cape, South Africa. Endemic to the Knersvlakte Centre of Endemism ( Van Wyk & Smith 2001).

Habitat:— North-facing quartzitic sandstone ridges and medium slopes.

Elevation:— ± 270 m

Flowering time:— March–April

Etymology:— Refers to its occurrence in the Knersvlakte of South Africa.

General notes:— This taxon was originally described as Aloe knersvlakensis . Together with Aloe gariepensis it has the longest racemes and smallest flowers in A. sect. Purpurascentes ( Marais 2010).

Additional specimens examined:— SOUTH AFRICA. Western Cape: Van Rhynsdorp, Jakkalsdraai farm, S.J.

Marais s.n. (holotype NBGm); 14 July 2010, R. R. Klopper & A. W. Klopper 358 & 359 (PREgc) .

Figures

FIGURE 13. Aloe khamiesensis subsp. knersvlakensis. A. Known distribution (red shading). B. Caulescent, unbranched plant with developing fruit. C. Inflorescences with orange-red buds and yellow, greenish-tipped open flowers. D. Rosette of dull green leaves with numerous white spots. Photographs: B, D. Arrie W. Klopper (Kliprand, Western Cape, South Africa, July 2010); C. Sarel J. Marais (Kliprand, Western Cape, South Africa, April 2006).