Rambling Aloes

[Colin Walker]

Aloenut Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> Colin,
>
> No, I had forgotten about those! I was thinking of
> something more commonly grown. In fact, its hardy
> in the UK.
>
> Aloenut

Hi again Frank,

Okay, you must be thinking A. striatula then - true or true?!

BTW, have you seen the two new spp. I mentioned in the flesh? Neither are very exciting horticulturally IMHO, but they are new!

[Aloenut]

Colin,

Yup, you got it, A. striatula.

No, I haven't seen either of the new species, but I understand them to be similar to Aloe commixta?

Thanks
Aloenut

[BrianMc]

Great pics Frank.

Thanks for sharing.
Any others from your trip?

[Colin Walker]

Aloenut Wrote:
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> Aloe tidmarshii which has now been sunk as a
> variety of A. ciliaris.
>

Hi Frank,

A. ciliaris and A. ciliaris var. tidmarshii aren't very beautiful aloes IMHO, but their cytology (i.e. their chromosomes) IS of great interest. The vast majority of aloes are diploid with the same basic count of 2n = 14. This is true for A. ciliaris var. tidmarshii, but var. ciliaris is very unsual with a count of 2n = 42 (occasionally maybe 2n = 45 also, but this now seems doubtful). There's also var. redacta with an intermediate count of 2n = 28. The unusual nature of A. ciliaris was discovered as far back as 1926. Thought you really all ought to know this fascinating story.

[Aloenut]

Brian,

I do have other photos from my trip. I will probably post them over the next few weeks as time allows.

Colin,
Yes, I am aware of the unusual chromosome counts of Aloe ciliaris. Which would probably account for the various forms which I have encountered. Some being far more robust than others.

Thanks
Aloenut

[Apicra]

Nice to see these unpopular scrambling Aloe get a mention!

I can't find the text that goes with the following image, but that painting of the new Aloe juddii by Eric Judd was exhibited at Kirstenbosch and this link still works:

http://www.sanbi.org/whatson/whatsonima ... juddii.jpg

And here is a short popular article about it with a photo:

http://www.varietyisinournature.com/in_ ... overed.asp

As I type this, I am in front of a couple of original Aloe paintings by Eric Judd that hang on my wall. They are loosely drawn, but catch the "jizz" of the species nicely.

Best wishes,
Derek Tribble,
London, UK

[Colin Walker]

Apicra Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> Nice to see these unpopular scrambling Aloe get a
> mention!
>
> I can't find the text that goes with the following
> image, but that painting of the new Aloe juddii by
> Eric Judd was exhibited at Kirstenbosch and this
> link still works:
>
> http://www.sanbi.org/whatson/whatsonimages/Aloe%20
> juddii.jpg
>
> And here is a short popular article about it with
> a photo:
>
> http://www.varietyisinournature.com/in_the_news/ne
> w_species_of_aloe_discovered.asp
>
> As I type this, I am in front of a couple of
> original Aloe paintings by Eric Judd that hang on
> my wall. They are loosely drawn, but catch the
> "jizz" of the species nicely.
>
> Best wishes,
> Derek Tribble,
> London, UK


Hi Derek,

Thanks for the extra info. on A. juddii. The painting by Eric Judd is the one that accompanies the original description:

Ernst van Jaarsveld. Aloe juddii, a new species from the Western Cape, and A. gracilis var. decumbens raised to species level. Aloe, 45: 4-10, 2008.