Aloe castanea

Aloe castanea is a tall, branched, leaf succulent reaching small tree proportions, heights around 3 m to 4 m (SA Tree List No. 28.6).

The plant received the specific epithet of castanea for the eponymous colour designation, chestnut. The red-brown perianths of an A. castanea inflorescence have inner segments broader than the outer three free ones. The inner three anthers as well as the outer ones are in turn exserted.

Copious quantities of dark nectar, sticky and sweet, are produced. This is much valued by birds, as well as bees and other insect pollinators. The up to 1 m long, unbranched raceme with its characteristic graceful curve and upturned apex earned the plant the name of cat’s tail aloe. The inflorescence in picture has not this year reached its best size.

The species distribution is in the central part of the border area between Mpumalanga and Limpopo, as well as in the far north of Gauteng. 

The habitat is varied grassland and woodland in various soil types. The species is abundant and not threatened in habitat early in the twenty first century (Van Wyk and Smith, 2003; Reynolds, 1974; Jeppe, 1969; iNaturalist; http://redlist.sanbi.org).