Are these both Nananthus aloides?

[ralphrmartin]

For a long time, I have grown the plant on the left as Nananthus aloides, originally grown from Köhres seed, I believe. Today, I received the plant on the right, also as N. aloides. It looks very different - much longer leaves, and a more upright habit. Indeed, to me, the one on the right looks much more Aloe like.

So, are they both N. aloides, with differences just down to differences in cultivation?And if not, which one is the real thing, and what is the impostor?

Thanks for anyone who can shed some light on this.

[esp]

I'd be surprised if the one on the right won't open wider and grow more compact in full sun.
Time will tell..

[rthr]

It's true Nananthus species are incredibly adaptable and can develop longer/wider/darker leaves depending on cultivation conditions and maturity. But there's also variation between populations, some brighter and more compact whilst others are considerably darker or broader-leaved. It doesn't help that Nananthus species are notoriously hard to tell apart. What N.aloides are supposed to have in common is leaves wider in the middle than at either end that are covered in small white dots and have distinct leaf margins. The leaves frequently (but not always) have ridges or furrows on the upper side and the small yellow flowers have a faint red mid-stripe or lack the stripe altogether.

Some of the difference between your two plants, Ralph, may well be down to different cultivation conditions and you'll certainly be better placed to compare them once the new acquisition has been in your care for a year or two. That said, the new plant looks similar to some N.aloides that have been circulating as N.transvaalensis - they tend to have darker, shinier leaves and whiter leaf margins. The species N.transvaalensis was sunk into N.vittatus but vittatus doesn't have the white borders to the leaves that these particular 'transvaalensis' clones do.

Catherine

[ralphrmartin]

Thanks all.

I also have a plant of N. transvaalensis, which doesn't look like either of these.

Here's a picture of the one on its left in its younger days, flowering. You can see red stripes on the petals, and white dots on the leaves.

Anyway, let's see what the upshot is after I've grown the new one for a while.

[Rogan]

I am confused by this genus so I won't be any good distinguishing one from the other. I have raised two "species" from Mesa Gardens seed viz. N. aloides (below, right) and N. aff. broomii (below, left). N. aff. broomii has narrower, bright green leaves of the two, and that's all I can say...

[Rogan]

[ralphrmartin]

Thanks Rogan. Your aloides on the left looks like my original one.

[MatDz]

Thanks Rogan. Your aloides on the left looks like my original one.

The left one is aff. broomii if I understood well.

[Pattock]

Thanks Rogan. Your aloides on the left looks like my original one.

The left one is aff. broomii if I understood well.

That was my understanding, too.

Handily at the top of the page on the Mesa Garden site:
https://mesagarden.com/product-category/genus/nananthus

[ralphrmartin]

Thanks guys, for pointing out my misreading of Rogan's posting.

I also have a Nananthus broomii, but that looks different again...