Aloe ortholopha is a perennial herb 45-100 cm tall. The rare aloe is found in the Great Dyke of Zimbabwe.
It can be easily identified by its greenish-blue wide leaves that form a rosette and its bright coral-red to orange flowers.
Aloe ortholopha Classification
- Domain: Eukaryota
- Kingdom: Plantae
- Phylum: Tracheophyta
- Subphylum: Angiospermae
- Class: Monocotyledonae
- Order: Asparagales
- Family: Asphodeloideae
- Genus: Aloe
- Species: Aloe ortholopha
- Common Names: Dyke aloe
Nativity and Distribution
Dyke Aloe is native to the Mvurwi Range on the Northern Great Dyke of Zimbabwe in Southern Africa and is not found anywhere else in the world.
Physical Characteristics
- Leaves: Smooth greenish-blue leaves with serrated margins
- Fruits: Brown dry pods
- Stems: Stemless
- Flowers: Bright tubular coral-red to orange flowers
- Roots: Tuberous root system
Aloe ortholopha is a fleshy aloe that can grow 45-100 cm tall. It is easily recognizable by its broad leaves that form a rosette and its showy bright orange flowers.
The leaves are erect and slightly curved inward, broad, greenish-blue in colour (although sometimes with a pink hue in drier conditions) and form a stemless rosette about 1m tall. They are smooth on the surface, spotless, with sharp teeth 2-3mm long.
The leaf blades vary in size from 10-14 x 40-50 cm.
Dyke aloe produces multi-branched inflorescences 90 cm high that have thick short pedicles above the leaves.
The racemes contain a dense arrangement of bright coral-red to orange flowers tubular in shape, 7mm wide and 35-42mm long, and secund on the upper side of the rachis.
Most plants have one pedicle extending horizontally on one side hence the term “lopha” from the Greek term “lophos”, which means “one-side inflorescence.
However, some plants can occasionally have 1-3 pedicels extending horizontally in different directions. Flowering occurs between July and August.
The seeds are small, flat, and grayish-brown to black in colour.
Reproduction, Dispersal, and Life Cycle
- Life Cycle: Perennial
- Seeds: Produces few seeds
- Climate: Tropical climate
- Dispersal: Wind and animals
A.Ortholopha behaves as a perennial plant and reproduces by seeds. The aloe is not a prolific seed producer, but the few seeds produced are generally viable. The seeds are mostly dispersed by wind and animals.
The seeds generally germinate near the parent plant and do not colonize new areas outside the Great Dyke.
Dyke aloe grows in serpentine soils found in rocky landscapes and open grasslands. This rare type of soil has low water retention capacity, low levels of calcium and nitrogen, and high levels of heavy metals like cobalt and nickel.
Similar Plants
- Aloe striata
- Aloe ferox
- Aloe marlothii
Uses
- It is grown as an ornamental for its beautiful leaves and blooms.
- It is grown as a pollinator plant to attract bees and birds in gardens.
Impact on Farms and Environment
A. ortholopha is not considered an invasive plant in cropping systems or the environment due to its localized growth.
As an ornamental plant, it enhances the beauty of gardens and landscapes. Additionally, it provides food and habitat for insects, birds, and other small animals.
As a pollinator plant that attracts bees and birds, it positively contributes to the local biodiversity.
Control
Due to its confined growth in the Mvurwi Range and its non-invasive nature, there are no documented control methods.
Lead Editor for Insight Weeds.