Coral Aloe

Names and Synonyms

Common Names

• Coral Aloe

Scientific Names

Accepted name

Synonyms

• Aloe striata var. rhodocincta
• Aloe rhodocincta
• Aloe paniculata
• Aloe hanburiana
• Aloe albocincta

Regional and Traditional Names

Sources: Wikidata, Catalogue of Life

Taxonomical Classification

This plant belongs to the kingdom Plantae and is classified within the phylum Streptophyta and the class Equisetopsida. As a member of the subclass Magnoliidae and the order Asparagales, it falls under the family Asphodelaceae. Finally, it is specifically categorized within the genus Aloe.

Sources: The World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP)

Distribution

This plant exhibits a wide and diverse geographical distribution across several distinct regions. Within Northern Africa, its presence is documented in both Algeria and Morocco. Moving southward, the species is also found throughout the Cape Provinces of Southern Africa. Interestingly, its range extends far beyond the African continent into the Middle Atlantic Ocean. Specifically, it can be located on the remote island of Ascension.

Sources: The World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP)

Botanical Identification

Life history

The life history of Aloe striata is characterized by its status as a perennial organism, allowing it to persist through multiple growing seasons and establish a stable presence within its ecosystem. Structurally, the plant functions as a hemicryptophyte, a life form where the perennable buds are located at or just below the soil surface, protected by leaf bases or organic debris during unfavorable conditions. This growth strategy enables the plant to endure environmental fluctuations by maintaining its regenerative capacity close to the substrate, facilitating long-term survival and gradual development over its multi-year lifespan.

Life form :

hemicryptophyte

Lifecycle :

perennial

Morphology

The morphology of Aloe striata is characterized by its growth form as a non-woody herb, specifically categorized as a herbaceous plant. It functions as a self-supporting organism, lacking any climber tendencies, and maintains an independent lifestyle without acting as a parasite. This species is strictly terrestrial in its habitat, meaning it does not exhibit aquatic, semiaquatic, or epiphytic behaviors, and it remains firmly grounded in soil environments.

Aquatic :

terrestrial

Climber :

self-supporting

Epiphyte :

terrestrial

Growth form :

herb

Parasite :

independent

Woodiness :

non-woody

Reproduction

Reproduction in Aloe striata occurs through both sexual and asexual mechanisms, with sexual reproduction driven by the production of seeds following pollination. The seeds produced by this species are characterized by their minute size and specific weight distribution. Quantitatively, the seed mass follows a narrow range, with a calculated mean mass of 9e-04 g. Individual seeds vary slightly in weight, with a documented minimum mass of 0.00058 g and a maximum mass reaching up to 0.00122 g. These small, lightweight seeds are typically dispersed to facilitate the colonization of new habitats, supplementing the plant's ability to propagate through vegetative offsets or suckers.

Seed mass max:

0.00122 g

Seed mass mean:

9e-04 g

Seed mass min:

0.00058 g

Sources: Global Inventory of Floras and Traits (GIFT)

Chemicals

Aloe striata has 2 reported phytochemicals identified across 0 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported chemicals include Flavonoids, Terpenoids.

Flavonoids

1. BMC complementary and alternative medicine

Terpenoids

1. BMC complementary and alternative medicine