Easy Asphodelaceae

Post by **MWP admin** » Thu Sep 13, 2007 2:29 pm

I am trying to identify these two cults of the Asphodel family and my id is Aloe saponaria for the lower one and Aloe ferrox for the higher one?

RB · Post by RB » Thu Sep 13, 2007 2:47 pm

Top ones should be aloe vera

Post by **MWP admin** » Thu Sep 13, 2007 2:49 pm

lower ones as stated ?

jackpot · Post by **jackpot** » Thu Sep 13, 2007 3:42 pm

confirm RB, together with Crithmum (?), Inula, Capparis, Carpobrotus & possibly a yellow flowering variety of Aloe ferox (in front)

Post by **MWP admin** » Thu Sep 13, 2007 4:41 pm

And Dittrichia viscosa by the wall!

So Aloe vera (back) and Aloe saponaria (front). Thanks.
BTW, this was from a cemetry, and there where also large specimens of Pancratium maritimum with fruit having a size of a small-sized egg.

jackpot · Post by **jackpot** » Thu Sep 13, 2007 5:06 pm

no doubt with A. vera, but ok, ferox could be saponaria (I prefer ferox)

jackpot · Post by **jackpot** » Thu Sep 13, 2007 5:11 pm

I missed Dittrichia?
Interesting cemetery- but it is prohibited to make pics!

Post by **MWP admin** » Thu Sep 13, 2007 5:32 pm

Ooops, I miscalled the taxon - I am ref to Inula crithmoides. I always mess these summer these two up!

Here's the chapel from the cemetry (a very small one)

Post by **MWP admin** » Thu Sep 13, 2007 5:33 pm

Is Aloe saponaria and A. ferox the same (synonyms) ??

Post by **MWP admin** » Thu Sep 13, 2007 6:56 pm

So here is an Aloe vera naturalised on the coast!

jackpot · Post by **jackpot** » Fri Sep 14, 2007 8:43 am

no- 2 diff. sp.

RB · Post by RB » Fri Sep 14, 2007 9:07 am

Actually I am of the impression that Aloe vera was originally not naturalised but a native plant. However it is likely that due to collection of this plant for its properties, it likely died out as a "true" wild plant, and possibly the ones that one finds wild (such as at Cirkewwa) may originally have been planted.

I think there is a thread about this plant on the forum.

RB

RB · Post by RB » Fri Sep 14, 2007 9:12 am

And BTW you were in Kalkara/Rinella...

Post by **MWP admin** » Fri Sep 14, 2007 10:43 am

The plant is tought to be an archaeophyte (has been on our islands from ancient times) but the photo taken is a naturalised one, and those singular specimen scattered around on the coast are in my opinion all naturalised. A true native population of Aloe vera should consist of hundreds (or thousands) of plants close to each other.