Tag: habitat

Stomatium suaveolens

Stomatium is one of the few genera of the Aizoaceae with obviously scented flowers. This species even derives its name from that fact (suaveolens = with a sweet smell).
The plants form compact, flat to somewhat rounded clumps with rough leaves which are 1-2 cm long, 0.9-1.5 cm wide and 0.7-0.9 cm thick.
Usually the yellow flowers appear in May-July; they are to 1.5 cm in diameter and open in the evening.
The species occurs on flat rock slabs (see first picture) in the Fraserburg – Sutherland – Williston area, where severe frost is a normal phenomenon in winter.
In the second picture you may also spot Crassula corallina.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Aloe millotii

This attractive and easy to recognize species is only known from Tanjana Vohimena (Cap Ste. Marie), Madagascar’s southernmost point.
It grows here in full sunshine or partial shade in xerophytic bush on limestone, exposed to strong and almost continuous winds.

The plants are creeping with raised tips or climbing, with branches 20-25 cm long (up to 50 cm when supported by bushes).
When young, the leaves are arranged in two vertical rows on opposite sides of the stem (spiralling with age); they are horizontally spreading but curved back in the upper third, 6-10 cm long and 0.7-0.9 cm wide.
The scarlet to yellow flowers are to 2.2 cm long.

The last two pictures were taken in cultivation (scans from old slides).