A synoptic review of the aloes (Asphodelaceae, Alooideae) of KwaZulu-Natal, an ecologically diverse province in eastern South Africa

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Authors

Klopper, Ronell Renett
Crouch, Neil R.
Smith, Gideon F.
Van Wyk, Abraham Erasmus (Braam)

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https://phytokeys.pensoft.net/

Abstract

The KwaZulu-Natal province of South Africa has a varied topography, geology and climate and presents diverse habitats that support a rich and diverse flora. Aloes are well represented in KwaZulu-Natal, with four genera [Aloe L., Aloiampelos Klopper & Gideon F.Sm., Aloidendron (A.Berger) Klopper & Gideon F.Sm. and Aristaloe Boatwr. & J.C.Manning] and 49 taxa occurring in the province. Fourteen of these are endemic and eleven near-endemic to the province. A floristic treatment of the aloes of KwaZulu-Natal is presented in the form of a synoptic review. Included are an identification key to the aloes that occur naturally in the province, species-level distribution maps and accompanying images, so providing for the first time, an atlas of aloe occurrence in this part of the subcontinent.

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Keywords

Aloe, Aloiampelos, Aloidendron, Conservation status, Distribution map, Maputaland-Pondoland- Albany hotspot, KwaZulu-Natal (KZN), KwaZulu Natal, South Africa

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Citation

Klopper RR, Crouch NR, Smith GF, Van Wyk AE (2020) A synoptic review of the aloes (Asphodelaceae, Alooideae) of KwaZulu-Natal, an ecologically diverse province in eastern South Africa. PhytoKeys 142: 1–88. https://DOI.org/ 10.3897/phytokeys.142.48365.