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 vanbalenii Pillans Common names. Van Balen's aloe (English); rooiblaaraalwyn (Afrikaans); icenalamatshe, incenalendlovu, icenandhlovu, inhlahlwane (Zulu). Description. Acaulescent plants or stem very short, 0.2-0.3 m tall, branching at top and base; rosettes suckering to form dense groups, erect. Leaves densely rosulate, spreading to strongly decurved, green to copper red, greener on lower surface, usually obscurely lineate, lanceolate, long attenuate, deeply channelled, 50-80 cm long, 9-15 cm wide; margin somewhat horny, reddish to reddish-brown, with pungent, reddish, deltoid teeth, 3-5 mm long, 10-15 mm apart; exudate pale honey-coloured. Inflorescence +/- 1 m high, erect, 2- or 3-branched from about middle. Racemes narrowly conical, up to 25-30 cm long, 8-10 cm wide, rather dense. Floral bracts up to 15 mm long, 6-7 mm wide. Pedicels 14-23 mm long. Flowers : perianth orange-yellow or sometimes dull reddish-pink in bud, usually buff-yellow or sometimes dull red when mature, 30-40 mm long, 6-7 mm across ovary, widening slightly towards wide-open mouth, straight, cylindrical-trigonous, slightly laterally compressed; outer segments free to base; stamens exserted to 10 mm; style exserted 10-12 mm. Flowering time. June-July. Habitat. Flat rocks and rocky outcrops with minimal soil in Nkonkoni Veld and Zululand Thornveld. Frost-free area with moderately high summer rainfall. Diagnostic characters. Aloe vanbalenii can be distinguished from other virtually acaulescent, non-maculate aloes in KwaZulu-Natal ( Aristaloe aristata , Aloe chabaudii var. chabaudii , Aloe gerstneri , Aloe pratensis , Aloe reitzii var. vernalis and Aloe suprafoliata ) by its suckering habit that forms dense groups of rosettes. It is further characterised by its much recurved, green to copper red, broad (50-80 x 9-15 cm), deeply-channelled leaves with pungent marginal teeth. The inflorescence is erect, +/- 1 m high and 2- or 3-branched. Floral bracts are long (up to 15 mm) and pedicels erect (14-23 mm long). Flowers are orange-yellow or reddish-pink, 30-40 mm long and not narrowed above the ovary. Leaves have a characteristic cinnamon or musty smell when damaged ( Carter et al. 2011 ). Conservation status. Least Concern ( Raimondo et al. 2009 ). Distribution. Confined to the Lebombo Mountain range in northern KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa and southern Eswatini (Fig. 46 ). Figure 46. Aloe vanbalenii . Photo: N.R. Crouch.