  Class and Order. Hexandria Monogynia. Generic Character. Cor. erecta, ore patulo fundo nectarifero. Filam. receptaculo inserta. Specific Character and Synonyms. ALOE retusa acaulis foliis quinquefariis deltoideis. Thunb. Aloe, n. 15. Ait. Kew. 471. ALOE retusa floribus sessilibus triquetris bilabiatis labio inferiore revoluto. Linn. Sp. Pl. 459. ALOE africana brevissimo crassissimoque folio, flore viridi. Comm. hort. 2. p. 11. t. 6. Till. pis. 6. t. 5. 455 No455. Though the flowers of this Aloe have little to recommend them, there is much to admire in the form and structure of its leaves; and this pleasing circumstance attends it, it is perfectly distinct from all the other species: when first introduced, it was no doubt an object of great admiration; Fairchild, the celebrated Gardener of Hoxton, who preceded Miller, had it engraved, with several other succulents, on a plate which is prefixed to Dr. Blair's Botanic Essays, and which he described to the Doctor, betwixt whom and Mr. Fairchild there appears to have subsisted a great degree of intimacy: the Essays were printed in 1720. This species is a native of the Cape, and flowers in June, but not regularly so, increases very fast by offsets: Mr. Aiton makes it as he does all the Aloes indiscriminately, Dry Stove Plants, but it may be kept in a good green-house, taking care to place it in the driest and most airy part, and to guard it at all times from much wet, but more especially in the winter season. |
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