A synoptic review of the aloes (Asphodelaceae, Alooideae) of KwaZulu-Natal, an ecologically diverse province in eastern South Africa Author Klopper, Ronell R. Author Crouch, Neil R. Author Smith, Gideon F. Author van Wyk, Abraham E. text PhytoKeys 2020 142 1 88 http://dx.doi.org/10.3897/phytokeys.142.48365 journal article http://dx.doi.org/10.3897/phytokeys.142.48365 1314-2003-142-1 7B3A5CC9B82952B6B3E20C46E12DB4F1 NE Aloe thraskii Baker Common names. Dune aloe, strand aloe (English); strandaalwyn (Afrikaans); umhlaba (Zulu). Description. Solitary, arborescent plant, up to 3 m high. Stem simple, erect, 1-2 m high, can be up to 4 m, with persistent dried leaves. Leaves condensed rosulate, gracefully recurved, dull green to glaucous, without lines or spots, lower surface sometimes with a few spines in median line, lanceolate-attenuate, 160 cm long, 22 cm wide at base; margin very thin, narrow, reddish or brownish-red, with small deltoid reddish teeth, +/- 2 mm long, 10-20 mm apart; exudate honey-coloured. Inflorescence 0.5-0.8 m high, erect, 4- to 8-branched. Racemes broadly cylindrical, slightly acuminate, somewhat truncate, up to 25 cm long, usually shorter, very dense. Floral bracts 9 mm long, 6 mm wide. Pedicels 1-2 mm long. Flowers : perianth greenish to orange in buds, lemon-yellow to pale orange when mature, greenish tipped, +/- 25 mm long, +/- 6 mm across ovary, enlarging towards throat, mouth constricted and upturned, cylindrical, slightly clavate; outer segments free for +/- 17 mm; stamens exserted 15-20 mm; style exserted to 20 mm. Flowering time. June-July. Habitat. Beach dunes, in almost pure sand in low coastal vegetation or taller bush. Diagnostic characters. Aloe thraskii differs from the other tall, often single-stemmed aloes in KwaZulu-Natal ( Aloe candelabrum , Aloe marlothii , Aloe pluridens , Aloe rupestris and Aloe spectabilis ) with branched inflorescences, by its strictly coastal habitat and in having long ( +/- 160 x 22 cm), strongly recurved, deeply channelled leaves with small reddish marginal teeth. The inflorescence is 4- to 8-branched with erect, very dense, broadly cylindrical, slightly acuminate and somewhat truncate racemes of up to 25 cm long. Flowers are lemon-yellow to pale orange and +/- 25 mm long. The long-exserted yellowish-orange stamens and style emerge from the flower at an angle (not straight as in Aloe rupestris ). Conservation status. Near-threatened. Threats include habitat loss owing to urban expansion along the coast, as well as illegal collecting ( Raimondo et al. 2009 ). Distribution. Occurs in a narrow coastal strip from the far northern coast of the Eastern Cape into KwaZulu-Natal to just north of Durban, South Africa (Fig. 44 ). Figure 44. Aloe thraskii . Photo: G. Nichols.