Abstract
The predominantly southern African Xanthorrhoeaceae subfam. Asphodeloideae (Asphodelaceae subfam. Alooideae) has long been regarded as comprising seven so-called alooid genera ( Aloe , Astroloba , Chortolirion , Gasteria , Haworthia , Lomatophyllum , Poellnitzia ). A reassessment of the classification of the traditionally broadly circumscribed genus Aloe , a charismatic Old World group of leaf succulents, has necessitated nomenclatural adjustments. We propose a narrower generic concept for Aloe s. str . and the recognition of segregate genera to reflect accumulating evidence for monophyletic groups: here, the genus Kumara is reinstated and the new genera Aloidendron and Aloiampelos are established. New combinations are made in Aloe for the three species of Chortolirion .
Highlights
A reassessment of the classification of Aloe (Grace & Rønsted in prep.) supports previous studies that have highlighted the need for taxonomic changes to reflect phylogenetic relationships between the core aloes and sister groups (Adams et al 2000, Treutlein et al 2003a, Klopper et al 2010, Grace & Rønsted 2012)
As the first step towards a revised classification of Aloe, we propose a new generic circumscription to address the previous lack of monophyly in the genus and provide a nomenclatural framework for future studies of the biology and evolution of the alooids
Two distinct lineages comprising the tree aloes and Accepted by Hans-Joachim Esser: 19 Dec. 2012; published online in PDF: 7 Jan. 2013 scrambling aloes are elevated to generic rank as Aloidendron (Berger 1905: 48, 59) Klopper & Gideon F.Sm. and Aloiampelos Klopper & Gideon F.Sm., respectively
Summary
(tree aloes) and Aloiampelos Klopper & Gideon F.Sm. The distinctive Cape endemic Aloe plicatilis (Linnaeus 1753: 321) Miller (1768: 7) is reinstated in the genus Kumara Medikus (1786: 69) as Kumara disticha Medikus New names are proposed in Aloe for the three species of Chortolirion Berger (1908: 72), a genus of bulbous plants closely related to Aloe sect. 1. Aloidendron (A.Berger) Klopper & Gideon F.Sm., comb. Basionym: Aloe section Aloidendron Berger (1905: 56).
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