Aloe distans (Jewelled aloe)

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Aloe distans Haw.

Jewelled aloe

Kingdom	Plantae	Plants, but not fungi, lichens, or algae
Subkingdom	Tracheobionta	Vascular plants—plants with a “circulatory system” for delivering water and nutrients
Division	Magnoliophyta	Flowering plants, also known as angiosperms
Class	Liliopsida	Monocots (plants with a single seed leaf); includes the lily family
Subclass	Liliidae	Includes lilies, orchids, and many others
Order	Asparagales	A diverse group that includes asparagus
Family	Xanthorrhoeaceae	Aloes, many tropical plants, flax lilies, daylilies, many others
Genus	Aloe	Means “goddess” in ancient Sanskrit, for its reputed use as a beauty aid; some sources suggest that the name comes from Alloeh, meaning “shining bitter substance”
Species	distans	Separated, apart, widely-spaced, in reference to the long, exserted stamens, which are apart from each other

About plant names...

Jeweled aloe is a native of the west coast of the Southern Cape Province of South Africa, between Danger Point and St. Helen Bay. The species distans, meaning "standing apart," is believed to be a reference to the tendency of these aloes to occur far from any similar aloes.

Identification: Rosettes are up to 5″ (12 cm) in diameter, with flowering stalks up to 1½′ (45 cm) high. This species crawls along the ground, with long trailing stems that can reach 9½′ (3 m). Leaves are blue-green in color, up to 6″ (15 cm) long, with golden spines. Flowers are coral-colored.

See the Aloe comparison table.

The spreading nature of this aloe is unusual. By brewbooks@flickr.

Online References:

Desert-tropicals.com

San Marcos Growers

Succulents.co.za

The South Coast Botanic Garden on the Palos Verdes Penninsula in California

Thegardengeeks.com

Aloe distans description by Thomas H. Kent, last updated 25 May 2020.

2/26/2010 · San Diego Zoo, San Diego, California

Range: Zones 9-11:

About this map...