Aloe spicata

GreekDesert · #1

aka Aloe sessiliflora

Jankol · #2

From Kew Gardens, London.

#3

second plant above seems wrong... leaves far to wide at the base and flowers coming out in the wrong directions... but could be indoor versus outdoor cultivational influence?

This is a South African branching, low-growing tree aloe (up to 6' of trunk) with long, tapering, arching, narrow, bright green leaves with smallish teeth along the margins... This sounds a lot like many other tree aloes, but remember this one is a branching one which sort of sets it apart a bit... and the leaves are not nearly as long and tapering as in species like Aloe alooides, Aloe thraskii etc.. Flowers in late winter to early spring and are solitary, long, compact columnar racemes that cover about 70% of the length of the entire inflorescence. Flowers are very similar to those of Aloe alooides (especially the yellow-flowering variety) but most have yellow-brown-green flowers. Stamens and styles are a bright orange (or sometimes bright yellow) and extend way beyond the flowers themselves.