Aloe excelsa A. Berger
var. excelsa

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Photo: Ton Rulkens
Mt Muruwe near Chimoio.

Photo: Ton Rulkens
Hillside near Chimoio

Photo: Ton Rulkens
Matsinho, Chimoio

Photo: Stefaan Dondeyne
Along Chimoio-Sussundenga road near Zembe-Gondola

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Synonyms:
Common names:	Chikohwa (Manica) Zimbabwe tree aloe (English)
Frequency:
Status:	Native
Description:	Single-stemmed small tree, occurring on granite outcrops, or on steep rocky slopes in Brachystegia woodland. Stem up to 6 m high, normally covered in dried leaves except for the lowermost part. Leaves in a compact rosette at the stem apex, spreading or becoming recurved, up to 1 m long and c. 15 cm wide at the base, deeply channelled, dull green, often tinged reddish, usually with scattered reddish-brown prickles on the lower surface; margin with sharp 3-angular reddish-brown teeth. Inflorescences 1-4, erect, up to 1 m tall, up to 6-branched spreading upwards. Racemes erect up to 25 × 7 cm, very densely flowered, cylindric; bracts reflexed, rounded c. 6 × 4 mm, buff-coloured. Flowers 20-32 mm long, widening at the middle, cylindric-ellipsoid, orange to deep crimson, rarely almost white.
Notes:	Although a record from Mt Zembe is mentioned in Flora Zambesiaca Volume 12 part 3 (2001), Mozambique was not added to the distribution for this variety. The species, however, appears to be quite common in the hills around Chimoio. See var. breviflora for comparison.
Derivation of specific name:	excelsa: from the Latin, excelsus, meaning tall or high.
Habitat:	The species tolerates a wide variety of wooded grasslands and woodlands, often on rocky outcrops and hill sides, as long as it is free from severe frosts or fires.
Altitude range:	450 - 1500 m
Flowering time:	Jul - Sep
Worldwide distribution:	Botswana, Mozambique, Zambia, Zimbabwe and Limpopo, South Africa.
Mozambique distribution:	MS
Growth form(s):	Tree.
Endemic status:
Red data list status:
Insects associated with this species:
Spot characters:	Display spot characters for this species
Content last updated:	Friday 3 August 2012
Literature:	Biegel, H.M. (1977). Check-list of ornamental plants used in Rhodesian parks and gardens. Rhodesia Agricultural Journal. Research Report No. 3. Page 21. Burrows, J.E., Burrows, S.M., Lötter, M.C. & Schmidt, E. (2018). Trees and Shrubs Mozambique Publishing Print Matters (Pty), Cape Town. Page 55. (Includes a picture). Carter, S. (2001). Aloaceae Flora Zambesiaca 12(3) Pages 91 - 92. Carter, S., Lavranos, J.J., Newton, L.E. & Walker, C.C. (2011). Aloes, The Definitive Guide Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew ISBN 978 1 84246439 7 Page 687. (Includes a picture). Chapano, C. & Mugarisanwa, N.H. (2003). Plants of the Matobo District National Herbarium and Botanic Garden, Zimbabwe Page 3. Coates Palgrave, K. (revised and updated by Meg Coates Palgrave) (2002). Trees of Southern Africa 3rd edition. Struik, South Africa Page 109. Da Silva, M.C., Izidine, S. & Amude, A.B. (2004). A preliminary checklist of the vascular plants of Mozambique. Southern African Botanical Diversity Network Report No. 30 Sabonet, Pretoria Page 120. Drummond, R.B. (1975). A list of trees, shrubs and woody climbers indigenous or naturalised in Rhodesia. Kirkia 10(1) Page 232. As Aloe excelsa Kimberley, M.J. (1973). Aloe Excelsa Excelsa 3 Pages 27 - 29. (Includes a picture). Kimberley, M.J. (1977). Aloes in Mashonaland Excelsa 7 Pages 62 - 65. (Includes a picture). Kimberley, M.J. (1980). Tree Aloes in Zimbabwe Excelsa 9 Pages 20 - 21. (Includes a picture). Linley, K. & Baker, B. (1972). Flowers of the Veld Bundu Series Longman Zimbabwe Page 14. Mapaura, A. & Timberlake, J. (eds) (2004). A checklist of Zimbabwean vascular plants Southern African Botanical Diversity Network Report No. 33 Sabonet, Pretoria and Harare Page 84. Phiri, P.S.M. (2005). A Checklist of Zambian Vascular Plants Southern African Botanical Diversity Network Report No. 32 Page 107. Plowes, D.C.H. (1972). Aloes in Manicaland Excelsa 2 Page 33. (Includes a picture). Schmidt, E., Lötter, M. & McCleland, W. (2002). Trees and shrubs of Mpumalanga and Kruger National Park Jacana, Johannesburg, South Africa Pages 60 - 61. (Includes a picture). Setshogo, M.P. (2005). Preliminary checklist of the plants of Botswana. Sabonet Report no. 37. Sabonet, Pretoria and Gaborone Page 115. Van Wyk, B-E. & Smith, G. (1996). Guide to the Aloes of South Africa Briza Publications, Pretoria, South Africa Pages 50 - 51. (Includes a picture). West, O. (1974). A Field Guide to the Aloes of Rhodesia. Longman, Salisbury Pages 89 - 92. (Includes a picture).

Other sources of information about Aloe excelsa var. excelsa:

Our websites:

Flora of Botswana: Aloe excelsa var. excelsa
Flora of Zambia: Aloe excelsa var. excelsa
Flora of Zimbabwe: Aloe excelsa var. excelsa
Flora of Zimbabwe: cultivated Aloe excelsa var. excelsa

External websites:

African Plants: A Photo Guide (Senckenberg): Aloe excelsa
African Plant Database: Aloe excelsa
BHL (Biodiversity Heritage Library): Aloe excelsa
EOL (Encyclopedia of Life): Aloe excelsa
GBIF (Global Biodiversity Information Facility): Aloe excelsa
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iNaturalist: Aloe excelsa
IPNI (International Plant Names Index): Aloe excelsa
JSTOR Plant Science: Aloe excelsa
Mansfeld World Database of Agricultural and Horticultural Crops: Aloe excelsa
Plants of the World Online: Aloe excelsa
Tropicos: Aloe excelsa
Wikipedia: Aloe excelsa