''Aloe jucunda'' is a species

succulent In botany, succulent plants, also known as succulents, are plants with parts that are thickened, fleshy, and engorged, usually to retain water in arid climates or soil conditions. The word ''succulent'' comes from the Latin word ''sucus'', meani ...

plants that belong to the family

Asphodelaceae Asphodelaceae is a family of flowering plants in the order Asparagales. Such a family has been recognized by most taxonomists, but the circumscription has varied widely. In its current circumscription in the APG IV system, it includes about 4 ...

, indigenous to

Somalia Somalia, , Osmanya script: 𐒈𐒝𐒑𐒛𐒐𐒘𐒕𐒖; ar, الصومال, aṣ-Ṣūmāl officially the Federal Republic of SomaliaThe ''Federal Republic of Somalia'' is the country's name per Article 1 of thProvisional Constituti ...

Description

''Aloe jucunda'' can reach a height of about 35 cm. It has shiny, glossy, triangular, dark green leaves, usually about twelve, flecked with pale green spots, up to 4 cm long and 2–5 cm wide, with triangular teeth on the margins. The inflorescences are single cylindrical clusters, about 35 cm high. The flowers are pale pink or coral pink, 20–30 mm.

Distribution and habitat

This species is native to northern Somalia. ''A. jucunda'' occurs only in dry forests on limestone at altitudes from 1060 to 1680 meters, within a very restricted range about 30 km across on the Gaan Libah plateau.

Conservation

Due to its narrow range, occurrence in only three locations, and the continuing degradation of its habitat, ''A. jucunda'' is currently classified as critically endangered by the

IUCN The International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN; officially International Union for Conservation of Nature and Natural Resources) is an international organization working in the field of nature conservation and sustainable use of natu ...

Uses

In its native range, it is used to treat wounds, burns, and digestive problems, as well as being used as a

diuretic A diuretic () is any substance that promotes diuresis, the increased production of urine. This includes forced diuresis. A diuretic tablet is sometimes colloquially called a water tablet. There are several categories of diuretics. All diuretics in ...

. In cultivation, it prefers soil with a pH of 5.5–6.5, and may be grown outside in the US in

hardiness zone A hardiness zone is a geographic area defined as having a certain average annual minimum temperature, a factor relevant to the survival of many plants. In some systems other statistics are included in the calculations. The original and most wide ...

11.

References

Catalogue of LifeRoyal Botanical Gardens of Kew
jucunda Flora of Somalia {{Asphodelaceae-stub