Aloe alooides

Aloe alooides, the Graskop aloe and previously scientifically known as A. recurvifolia, grows a single stem with long light-green, droopy leaves. It becomes up to 2 m tall (SA Tree List No. 28.3). Old leaves die but remain persistent on the stem (marcescent).

Up to five unbranched racemes of yellow flowers may grow in season from the leaf rosette of a thriving plant.

The species occurs naturally in a small part of northern Mpumalanga from Pilgrim's Rest to Waterval Boven.

The habitat is mountainous, the plants growing on open dolomite ridges in shallow soil at elevations between 1200 m and 1800 m. Although range restricted, the species is not considered threatened in habitat early in the twenty first century (Frandsen, 2017; Van Wyk and Smith, 2003; http://redlist.sanbi.org).