Aloe erinacea?

Post by **Greenlarry** » Mon Oct 23, 2006 9:16 pm

I was in town and found this funky little aloe. It has really nice dark red spines that look quite vicious.

[img]http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v11/D ... like06.jpg[/img]

[img]http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v11/D ... like05.jpg[/img]

[img]http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v11/D ... like02.jpg[/img]

[img]http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v11/D ... like01.jpg[/img]

Post by **Phil_SK** » Mon Oct 23, 2006 9:39 pm

I had one like that years ago, only it was labelled Aloe broomii (I think v. tarkaensis, in my case)

Post by **Greenlarry** » Mon Oct 23, 2006 9:42 pm

I just did some surfing and realised my mistake-it was broomii that I was thinking of, not erinacea! That species has white spines and thick fleshy leaves!

Post by **Aloenut** » Wed Oct 25, 2006 10:54 am

Greenlarry,

This is the real Aloe erinacea.

Guest · Post by **Guest** » Wed Oct 25, 2006 12:43 pm

Aloenut, is it the same as melanacantha? A large clump of Erinacea is very handsome.

Post by **Aloenut** » Wed Oct 25, 2006 3:31 pm

Mike,

Aloe melanacantha and Aloe erinacea are completely different.

Aloe melanacantha is found in the Northern Cape of South Africa in Namaqualand and the Richtersveld up to the Orange River.
The rosettes are a brownish green colour with the black spines that give the species its name. The elongated scape has orange buds that change to yellow as they develope and open.

Aloe erinacea is found in Southern Namibia.
The rosettes are a distinctive blueish silver in colour with black thorns. The flowers are pink

Both species form sizeable clumps.

The little rainfall that occurs in both habitats would be in winter.

Both are undemanding in cultivation as long as they are grown in a well drained soil mix and watered sparingly.

Aloenut

Guest · Post by **Guest** » Wed Oct 25, 2006 3:52 pm

Many thanks Aloenut.

for some reason I struggle to get melanacantha going from seed. Have tried 2 years running but each year they germinate then fade away. I generally don't have problems with Aloes from seed but this one doesn't seem to like me.

Mike.

Post by **Aloenut** » Wed Oct 25, 2006 6:34 pm

Mike,

I have sowed once and found them quite easy.
I sowed in early September, and kept them in my indoors propegator for the winter. They got potted up and into the greenhouse the following spring.
Very slow growing though.

Post by **Greenlarry** » Wed Oct 25, 2006 7:15 pm

Aloenut, that erinacea is another on my wants list, gorgeous!

Post by **Apicra** » Wed Oct 25, 2006 10:01 pm

Changing back to Greenlarry's Aloe broomii, it is a faster & easier species that melanacantha or the slowest erinacea. Broomii is attractive as it grows up, but the teeth appear smaller in proportion and less obvious. I grew on up to a six inch pot.

Eventually, it can get very big - I saw them four feet high and three across north of Graaff-Reinet, up on the escarpment. At approx 3,000 ft, they should withstand a few frosts.

Best wishes,
Derek Tribble,
London, UK

Aloe erinacea?

Aloe erinacea?

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The real Aloe erinacea

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