Stem usually simple, 2-4 met. high (sometimes branched low down or higher), densely covered with persistent old dried leaf remains. Leaves about 30, densely rosulate, spreading to recurved, up to 65 cm long, 12 cm broad at base, dull green to somewhat glaucous; upper surface flat near base, increasingly canaliculate upwards, glabrous, or with a few scattered reddish spines in upper third; lower surface convex, with a few reddish spines in median line near apex or extending to the middle, with or without a few additional irregularly scattered spines in upper portion of leaf; margins armed with deltoid pungent reddish teeth 4-5 mm long, 15 mm distant, usually smaller and more crowded near base of leaf. Inflorescence 60-80 cm high, 2-3 consecutively, each 2-4-branched. Peduncle robust, deep brown, somewhat sulcate, branched low down, sterile-bracteate below the racemes. Racemes cylindric-acuminate, 40-60 cm long, 10-12 cm diam. low down, 3-4 cm diam. at apex, densely flowered, the buds dull red, open flowers yellow-orange, all spreading downwards. Bracts ovate-lanceolate, acute, thin, scarious, rather white, 11 mm long, 7-8 mm broad at base, many-nerved, the lowest about twice as long as their pedicels. Pedicels 5-6 mm long. Perianth yellow to orange-yellow, up to 55 mm, long, curved-cylindric, 5-6 mm diam. at base, enlarging to about 8 mm at the throat, the upper half markedly upcurved with the mouth almost at right angles to the tube; outer segments free for one-third their length, with 3-5 orange nerves confluent at apex, the apices sub-acute, slightly spreading, the 2 upper falcately incurved at apex; inner segments free, but cohering dorsally to the outer for two-thirds their length, broader than the outer, and with broad white marginal borders, the upper third with 3 congested greenish nerves forming a keel, the apices more obtuse. Filaments flattened, the 3 inner narrower and lengthening in advance of the 3 outer, the included portion lemon, the 15 mm exserted portion orange, and markedly arcuate-upcurved. Anthers the 3 inner and 3 outer in turn exserted 15 mm, Stigma at length exserted 20 mm. Ovary 9 mm, long, 4.5 mm diam., pale lemon, finely 6-grooved.
More
Plants tree-like, 2-4 m tall, stems usually simple, rarely branched near base. Leaves ±30, spreading to recurved, 300-650 x 35-120 mm, shallowly channelled, green to glaucous green, upper surface with or without few scattered prickles, lower surface with prickles in apical median line, sometimes also scattered. Inflorescence of very dense, cylindric-conical racemes, 2-4-branched, 600-800 mm tall; bracts ovate-acute, 8-13 x 5-10 mm, obscurely many-nerved. Flowers yellow to orange, 28-55 mm long, cylindric, mouth upturned; outer segments connate in lower two thirds, inner segments free but cohering to outer in lower two thirds; pedicels 2-6 mm long. Anthers exserted 8-15 mm. Ovary 6.0-9.0 x 2.0-4.5 mm, pale lemon; style exserted 9-20 mm. Fruit 20-22 x 12-14 mm, yellow-brown.
Succulent, perennial tree. Stem 2-4 m high, single or rarely branched, erect, with persistent dried leaves. Leaves dull green to somewhat glaucous, without spots, spreading to recurved, up to 0.65 m long, upper surface glabrous or with few scattered reddish spines in upper 1/3, lower surface with few reddish spines in median line near apex, margins with pungent, deltoid, reddish teeth. Inflorescences 2 or 3, branched, erect, 0.6-0.8 m high, with cylindric-acuminate, dense racemes. Flowers dull red in bud, yellow-orange at maturity, up to 55 mm long, upper half of open flowers markedly upcurved; stamens and stigma well exserted. Flowering time July-Sept., some clones flower irregularly throughout the year.
Succulent perennial tree, 2-4 m , rarely branched, with persistent dried leaves. Leaves dull green to somewhat glaucous, without spots, spreading to recurved, up to 650 mm long, upper surface glabrous or with few, scattered, reddish spines in upper third, lower surface with few, reddish spines in median line near apex; margin with pungent, deltoid, reddish teeth. Racemes cylindric, dense, branched, 60-80 cm high. Flowers dull red in bud, yellow-orange at maturity, up to 55 mm long, upper half of open flowers markedly upcurved; stamens and stigma well exserted.
Home
