Evening shade

How dramatic the changes that the setting sun may bring over a landscape! For a while the trees close by convey a more intimate sense of their nature, revealing aspects of colour and texture not obvious in the bright glare of noon.

Transformation in colours continues by the minute until the impassive bodies in subdued tones are more sensed than seen, accepting the approaching night.

Below the leaves the stems are smooth, pale brown or silvery. Dead leaves do not persist on this and related tree aloe species. The size of leaf rosettes and the colour of stems relate to the age and life history of the tree.