Botanical name |
Aloe broomii |
Other names |
Snake aloe; slangaalwyn (Afrikaans) |
Family |
Asphodelaceae |
Dimensions |
Usually a single-stem aloe, but may divide into two or three rosettes; may be 1,5 m tall; usually a well developed rosette of up to a meter wide |
Description of stem |
Appears squat with the persisting old, dead leaves to ground level |
Description of leaves |
Light green, occasionally darker green; the distinctively longitudinally lined leaves are densely packed in a compact, somewhat bulky rosette; the edges are reddish and armed with sturdy, sharp teeth; a keel row of spines partly up the outer surface, or sometimes a few scattered spines |
Description of flowers |
Single, long, snakelike racemes of up to 1,5 m have densely packed flowers, of which the excerted stamens are the prominently visible parts among the enclosing bracts; the perianth is yellow but hidden behind the other flower parts |
Desciption of seed/fruit |
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Description of roots |
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Variation |
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Propagation and cultivation |
This aloe transplants readily and grows in cultivation in well-drained soil in full sun |
Tolerances |
Thrives in hot summer conditions, also adapted to cold winters, even including snow |
Uses |
Garden plant, although a less common one |
Ecological rarity |
Not threatened |
Pests and diseases |
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Other |
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Location |
Dry north facing slopes among grass and low bushes, in rocky and mountainous areas |
Distribution (SA provinces) |
Eastern and Northern Cape, Free State |
Country |
South Africa |