Aloe globuligemma

Aloe globuligemma, commonly known in Afrikaans as knoppiesaalwyn (little knobs aloe), has slender procumbent, sometimes quite short stems that creep and root to establish a clump of rosettes, often in the bushveld semi-shade. The vigorous winter flowering is spectacular. Long arrays of rose coloured buds, whitish towards the tube mouths are quite unlike other aloe flowers.

The purplish to deep brown filaments tipped with orange anthers are exserted, as is the pale style. This changes the flower’s appearance dramatically from the earlier simple look of the closed, initially globular buds. 

The erect and out-curving, S-shaped leaves have charm, but when the winter flowers appear, the plant really becomes special to aloe lovers. The blue-green leaves are unspotted and unlined, armed along their margins with small, whitish prickles that don't do harm.

The part of the species distribution in South Africa is only in Limpopo (widespread) and the far north of Mpumalanga.

The plants grow in warm, low altitude bushveld. The species is not considered threatened in habitat early in the twenty first century (Van Wyk and Smith, 2003; Reynolds, 1974; iNaturalist; http://redlist.sanbi.org).