Aloe arenicola - Reynolds
Asphodelaceae - CITES App. II

Locality:  This plant was photographed to the south Kleinzee.

Cultivation:  Full sun, drought resistant (needs very little water), needs frost protection, min -1 C - 4C (USDA 9 - 10).

Point of interest:   "arenicola" means "inhabiting sandy places"

Distribution:  Namaqualand.   Aloe arenicola occurs in arid areas in the Northern Cape of South Africa.   This aloe can be found on the sandy coastal belt from Lamberts Bay to the Orange River mouth.  It grows in the winter rainfall area (105 mm - 250 mm).  In times of drought these aloes get moisture from the mists and fog coming off of the ocean.

Description:  Aloe arenicola is 70 cm in height with procumbent stems.  The leaves are 18 cm long 6 cm wide, flat, lanceolate, succulent, bluish-green in colour with scattered oblong white marks.  The leaf margin is horny in texture, white in colour, with small white teeth.  The leaf-sap is honey coloured with a sour smell.

Flowers:  Inflorescence is usually simple but can be 2-3 branched.  The racemes are orange-reddish, 4 cm in length and are borne on dense heads.

Flowering time: July in northern areas, December or January in southern areas.