Aloe striata subsp. komaggasensis is one of two less known but equally striking subspecies of the typical Aloe striata. This particular subspecies is relatively new to science and not established at all in horticulture and is therefore not well known amongst garden aloes.

Description
Aloe striata subsp. komaggasensis grows in dense groups mostly on high undulating hills. Plants are stemless but in old specimens short creeping stems may form that are normally covered with persistent dry leaves. The leaves vary in colour depending on season and climatic conditions but they are generally a light grey-green colour with a distinctive whitish tinge and fine vertical lines on the leaf surface. The leaves, which are broader in the middle section and narrowing towards the tip and base, are flat, broad and boat-shaped and are arranged in rosettes. The spineless margins have a pinkish or reddish edge, giving the plant a soft and appealing appearance.

Left & Right: Aloe striata subsp. komaggasensis leaves

The flowers are formed on well branched racemes of which there may be three at a time. The shape of the racemes varies from head-shaped to cone-shaped. The flowers have slightly swollen bases and, to some extent, resemble those of the other spotted aloes. Flower colour varies from pinkish-red to bright orange. A. striata subsp. komaggasensis flowers in the summer from November to January.

Aloe striata subsp. striata in flower (flowers are very similar to that of subsp. komaggasensis)

Conservation status
Aloe striata subsp. komaggasensis is classified as Vulnerable (Raimondo et al. 2009) due to its localized range in Namaqualand and the impacts of overgrazing and injudicious collecting.

Distribution and habitat
Aloe striata subsp. komaggasensis is found in vegetation transitional between renosterveld and succulent karoo in the Succulent Karoo Biome. It occurs on the Namaqualand escarpment of the Northern Cape and is known from only a few populations on high hill slopes of eroded quartz and granite substrates.

Derivation of name and historical aspects
The genus name Aloe is derived from the Arabic, “Alloch” and translated as “Allal” in Greek and Hebrew literally meaning bitter or bitter sap which is descriptive of aloe sap. The specific epithet 'striata' literally means marked with lines, a conspicuous characteristic seen on the leaves of all three subspecies. The subspecies name refers to the village Komaggas near which the plant was found.

Ecology
The swollen flower bases of Aloe striata subsp. komaggasensis contain large nectaries that produce good supplies of nectar which are offered as a reward to pollinators such as sugar birds, as well as winged and crawling insects. After fertilization, the fruits, which are capsules, grow quickly and splits open into three flaps, called valves, in summer to release the wind-dispersed seeds. The plant itself is very tough and can survive often for several seasons without water, at which point the leaves turn a reddish colour to protect the plant against the high intensity ultra violet sun rays much in the same way as sun block protects the human skin. The leaves also curl inwards to protect the young leaves from heat stress. Aloe striata subsp. komaggasensis is not known to be eaten by many animals beside occasionally by rock hyrax, porcupine, and hare. However, the negative effects of overgrazing on its habitat and associated plant communities continue to pose a threat to its long-term survival.

Aloe striata subsp. komaggasensis fruit

Uses and cultural aspects
No medicinal uses are recorded for Aloe striata subsp. komaggasensis. There is no doubt that it would be a very attractive plant for arid gardens and containers although its cultivation may be somewhat challenging.

Growing Aloe striata subsp. komaggasensis

It grows best from freshly harvested seeds, and care must be taken to avoid overwatering and too much shade as these may lead to ideal conditions for fungal and viral infections as well as root rot. Once established, plants grow relatively fast if well drained soils and ample sunlight are provided. Companion plants include Aloe striata subsp. striata, A. striata subsp. karasbergensis, A. khamiesensis, A. microstigma, A. falcata and A. melanacantha. Other additions to consider are Lampranthus multiradiatus, L. aureus, L. reptans, Pelargonium echinatum, P. xerophyton, P. spinosum, P. sericifolium, P. crithmifolium, Stoeberia arborescens, Gazania krebsiana, Hermannia saccifera, Oscularia deltoides, Drosanthemum bicolor and Ruschia maxima.

References and further reading

• Court, D, 1981. Succulent flora of Southern Africa. Balkema, Cape Town.
• Germishuizen, G.& Meyer, N.L. (eds) 2003. Plants of southern Africa: an annotated ecklist. Strelitzia 14. National Botanical Institute, Pretoria.
• Leistner, O.A. (ed.). 2000. Seed plants of southern Africa: families and genera. Strelitzia 10. National Botanical Institute, Pretoria.
• Raimondo, D., Von Staden, L., Foden, W., Victor, J.E., Helme, N.A., Turner, R.C., Kamundi, D.A. & Manyama, P.A. (eds) 2009. Red List of South African plants. Strelitzia 25. South African National Biodiversity Institute, Pretoria.
• Reynolds, G.W. 1950. The aloes of South Africa. The Trustees of The Aloes of South Africa Book Fund, Johannesburg.
• Stearn, W. T. 2003. Stearn's dictionary of plant names for the gardener. Cassel, UK.
• Smith, C.A. 1966. Common names of South African plants. Memoirs of the Botanical Survey of South Africa no. 35.
• Smith, G.F. & Van Wyk, B.-E. 2008. Aloes in southern Africa. Struik, Cape Town.
• Van Wyk, B.-E. & Smith, G. 1996. Guide to the aloes of South Africa. Briza Publications, Pretoria.