Aloe Prostrata

''Aloe prostrata'' (previously ''Lomatophyllum prostratum'') is a species of ''Aloe'' indigenous to Antsiranana Province (Ankarana), Madagascar. Here it grows in shady forests overlying limestone.

Description

This species is low-growing, non-caulescent rosette, with long (15-20mm), narrow (1.5-2mm), curved, dark-green leaves. The dark leaves have many pale, confluent spots and small (3mm) marginal teeth.
The plant is mildly stoloniferous, and can form clumps. The flowers are red, and are born on a simple, cylindrical inflorescence. The fruits are long-lasting berries.

''Aloe prostrata'' subsp. ''pallida''

The subspecies ''pallida'' can be distinguished by its pallid colour. It has both paler leaves (light-green) and paler flowers (pinkish or yellow).

Relatives

It is part of a group of aloes which all bear fleshy berries, and were therefore classed as a separate group, ''Lomatophyllum''.
Within this group it is closely related to the solitary, faintly lineate species ''Aloe sakarahensis''. Teissier, M. & Lavranos, J.J. (2004). ''Sur l’identité de Aloe prostrata (H. Perrier) L.E. Newton & G.D. Rowley (Lomatophyllum prostratum H.Perrier) et sujets apparentés''. Succulentes 2004(3): 14–20.

References

{{Taxonbar, from=Q1442298

prostrata
Endemic flora of Madagascar
Taxa named by Joseph Marie Henry Alfred Perrier de la Bâthie