Aloiampelos juddii

Aloiampelos juddii, previously known as Aloe juddii, is not found in the older books on South African aloes as it was only discovered in the fynbos near Cape Agulhas in 2004. Recently acquired identities are evidently as mutable as old ones.

The plant has a well-known relative by resemblance in A. commixta, another fynbos species found on Table Mountain. These rambling aloes have numerous creeping stems that branch and sprawl over rocks. A. commixta is described by Reynolds as closest related to A. striatula, making the threesome a notable group. They all migrated botanically with the rest of the rambling aloes from the Aloe genus to Aloiampelos, their own generic home. This happened around 2013.

The bright red flowers of A. juddii are said to be relished by the klipspringer that frequents the rocky slopes of the plant’s habitat. Like new-born royalty, for whom naming may sometimes be a bit overdone, this species was given the rather ostentatious Afrikaans name of baardskeerdersbosvuurpylaalwyn. Literally translated, this would be “beard shaver’s bush rocket aloe”, one of the longest names to bear in the blooming business. Fortunately the plant takes no notice and retains no emotional scarring, as sometimes happens to people when their parents dont take proper care in naming them.

At least the name gives a clue as to the plant’s distribution area, Baardskeerdersbos being a rustic little vacation destination in the far south, marketed as a “heavenly hamlet”. A second, shorter common name, koudebergaalwyn, (cold mountain aloe) is useful for less formal occasions (Wikipedia; Reynolds, 1974; www.gansbaai.com).