Thabo Maphisa

To find Aloe melanacantha in habitat one has to travel to the coastal area of the Northern Cape or the north-western corner of the Western Cape. Namibians will also find it near the coast just north of the Gariep. The plant should be left in habitat as it usually dies when conditions deviate from the normal. The habitat is sandy soil and rocky slopes, such as seen in this photo. This species is one of four aloes first recorded during Simon van der Stel’s Namaqualand trip of 1685.

The stemless or short-stemmed rosette may be single as here, or form groups of up to about 10. Dry leaves are seen persisting low down on this old plant with procumbent stem, enjoying full sun for many years already among its protective rocks.

The narrowly triangular leaves curve inward, creating a well-rounded shape with emphasis on the daunting black spines. The spines may be straight, curve inwards or spread; everything possible to keep destructive forces at bay. Melanacantha means black thorns. The leaf colour is dull yellowish green to dark green.

The inflorescence of A. melanacantha is usually single, up to 1 m tall with a brown peduncle that is flat lower down. The densely flowered raceme is brightly scarlet-red, perianth tubes turning yellow upon opening. Most flowers are seen early in winter (Van Wyk and Smith, 2003; Reynolds, 1974).