Aloe massawana Reynolds
These originate from Southern Kenya and northern Tanzania as far south as Dar es Salaam and on a small island near Zanzibar, as well as Mozambique and Eritrea (Ethiopia), near sea level. The species, massawana, derives from an old locality name, Massawa, in Eritrea. The species is uncommon.
Plants: Plants are on the ground, with short stems or no discernible stems. They form clumps 1½–2′ (45–60 cm) tall and up to 9½′ (3 m) in diameter.
Leaves: Leaves occur in rosettes as with other aloes and are green to gray-green, with thorny edges. Each leaf is 1½–3′ (50–90 cm) long, and 2–4″ (6–10 cm) wide at the base, tapering to a poiint. Leaves have small teeth that may be soft or firm.
Flowers: Scarlet, pale red to salmon-red flowers appear in cylindrical racemes on stalks 4–6½′ (1.2–2 m) tall. Usually there are two to three branches supporting flowers.
Fruits: Ovoid dehiscent capsules are ¾ ⨉ ⅜″ (2 ⨉ 1.1 cm). They dry and split, releasing seeds.
Habitats: Right on the beach front in the salt spray zone on coral outcrops. Also recorded in sandy soils, in grass and open thickets near the sea shore.
Edibility: Poisonous 
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Very similar species. |
Online References:
2/26/2010 · San Diego Zoo, San Diego, California · ≈ 2½ × 3½′ (82 × 117 cm) 
| Kingdom | Plantae | Plants, but not fungi, lichens, or algae (from Stearn's Botanical Latin) |
| 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 | massawana | From an old locality name, Massawa, in Eritrea |
Aloe massawana description by Thomas H. Kent, not updated.
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