Kaapse kokerboom

Description:

Large specimens of the fan aloe may reach a height of 3-5 m. The stems are forked with clusters of strap-shaped leaves arranged in 2 opposite rows. The clusters resemble an open fan, hence the common name fan aloe. The leaves are dull or grey-green in colour, with the margins almost smooth, except for some small teeth in the upper part. The leaves are about 300 mm long and 40 mm wide. The leaf sap is clear.

Habitat:

Aloe plicatilis is the only tree aloe confined to the southwestern Cape, where it grows on the mountains from Franschhoek to Elandskloof in the north. Aloe plicatilis grows on steep, rocky slopes in well-drained acid, sandy soil. It grows among proteas, ericas and other fynbos vegetation and is one of the few aloes found in such vegetation. The fan aloe grows in an area with a high winter rainfall. This plant is not threatened but has a limited natural distribution area.