Aloe micracantha

Aloe micracantha, sometimes commonly called the wateraalwyn (water aloe), is a small, but robust grass aloe. The plant reaches heights around 60 cm when flowering. The plant, occasionally branched is generally single-stemmed, also short-stemmed from thick, long roots sometimes referred to as fusiform. Previously called A. microcantha, both specific name forms mean small thorns, referring to the tiny, soft, leaf margin spines. The leaf rosette is normally more upright than seen in this cultivated plant. In nature, the leaves normally wither in winter; the photo was taken in June.

The spiralling rosette is made up of long, narrow, succulent leaves, dark green with white spots on both surfaces. Twelve to eighteen leaves are grown that become up to 50 cm long and only 3 cm wide at the base. Leaf margins turn up a little, occasionally much. Leaf tips are acutely pointed. The leaf sap is clear.

The inflorescence is unbranched and head-like, comprising large flowers (perianths); technically described as capitate-corymbose. Flower colour is salmon to strawberry pink, the ovary coloured the same as the segments. This plant flowers from midsummer to early autumn.

The species distribution is coastal and slightly inland from the east of the Western Cape around Uniondale to the centre of the Eastern Cape around Makhanda (Grahamstown).

The habitat is fynbos and renosterveld slopes in sandy soils and stony places at elevations between 50 m and 700 m. Winter grass fire plays a role in the well-being of the species. The species is considered nearly threatened from habitat loss early in the twenty first century.

This may be the only grass aloe found in Western Cape fynbos (Frandsen, 2017; Craib, et al, 2005; Van Wyk and Smith, 2003; Reynolds, 1974; Jeppe, 1969; iNaturalist; http://redlist.sanbi.org).