BCSS - Forum

On the left is perrieri and bellatula on the right (If the photos display correct orientation). Does anyone know what the difference between the two is, they are both the same age and cultivation wise.

Reynolds:-

Per - leaves 20-30cm long, 15-20mm wide
Bel - leaves 10-13cm long, 9-10mm wide

Inflorescences of similar height

So basically, bellatula is a much smaller plant, otherwise similar.

Thank you Terry. I had seen references to Perrieri being less likely to offshoot and Bellatula more so.
Plus statements that one had a rougher surface texture without annoyingly saying which one.

The recent Aloe guide mentions about 16 leaves for A. bellatula, 10-15 for perrieri. Also 35 flowers on a raceme of 12-16cm length for A. bellatula vs. 20-30 flowers on a slightly longer raceme of 15-20cm on perrieri.

It goes on to say that both are likely to be the same species, coming from the same mountain range. „The somewhat larger size of A perrieri may well be attributed to more benign climate and soil conditions (...).“

There is no mention of the two differences you mentioned, as far as I can see?

I will have a look for the references.
Christian, are you saying where they are found on the mountain dictates what they look like? If so my two should after ten years or more under the same conditions should look exactly the same. The rather small size is probably because I don't water much.

That‘s how I understood it, John, and perhaps a degree of clonal variation comes into this as well?

I don‘t have first hand experience of growing these, but your two plants look so similar, even though obviously one of them is inclined to offset, and the other one is staying single.

Here is an old thread which discusses the two spp.: viewtopic.php?f=1&t=152334&hilit=perrieri

Colin mentions (ten years ago) that Aloe bellatula was never recollected since its first description - I wonder whether this has happened since?

Interesting thread link Christian. I wonder if I over fertilise will it blow the plants up and exaggerate their differences because the more I learn the less difference there seems to be.

Bloody Mice have eaten the flower stalks but discarded the flowers. Never had this occur with Aloes before only Conophytums.