BCSS - Forum

Hello folks;
I have an Aloe with a pretty old metal tag label, thin aluminium by the looks of it, white painted and then written on in pen. Sadly the field and collection data is the most faded, typically that is what I am trying to decypher. It says clearly Aloe Erinacea and what looks like ES1241 which can't be found in Ralph Martin's field number index. This is written along the label, and then at the point which would be nearest the compost there is written across the label what looks like 34 and under that 12, one suggestion is that is meant 3rd April 2012, but the plant is clearly older than that. Sadly the pain has flaked a bit, such a shame as its former owner clearly went to some trouble to put the data on the label.

I wondered if anyone knew anything about what I surmise is the field number info?

Regards
Matt

I am making an educated guess that the ES refers to Ernst Specks who ran a Continental nursery (Germany?) called Exotica, which specialised in "other succulents", and I believe closed down fairly recently. If correct, then the number could be his collection number (did he himself collect?) or possibly just his nursery catalogue number. Your guess about the date might be correct if it was actually bought as a plant from the nursery.

Mal L wrote: ↑Tue Sep 25, 2018 10:50 am I am making an educated guess that the ES refers to Ernst Specks who ran a Continental nursery (Germany?) called Exotica, which specialised in "other succulents", and I believe closed down fairly recently. If correct, then the number could be his collection number (did he himself collect?) or possibly just his nursery catalogue number. Your guess about the date might be correct if it was actually bought as a plant from the nursery.

Looks like you are correct, they have stopped selling plants but web site still there with gallery of plants and on the fourth page of aloes is

Aloe erinacea (from seed) 11241

http://www.specks-exotica.com/en/gallery/aloe/04/

Thank you so much!
I couldn't seem to regain access to my old forum user account, but I have re-registered now.
The Aloe in question, photo attached.
It is just over 31 centimetres high from the pot dressing and about 27 cms across.

That is a nice Aloe