Aloe rauhii

Aloe rauhii is a small acaulescent Aloe endemic to the Toliara Province of Madagascar, a very arid region in the southwestern corner of the island. It was discovered in 1961 by Professor Werner Rauh of Heidelberg University ​[1]​, who led many botanical expeditions in Madagascar and is considered an authority on succulent species on the island. Reynolds thus named this species after Rauh when he first published it in 1963.

Outdoors, the leaves tend to turn grey-green. The species can also be grown indoors, and with little direct sunlight, the leaves become a more vibrant green. Leaves are heavily covered with long H-shaped white spots on the surfaces, and have small white teeth along the margins ​[2]​.

This species offsets abundantly, and can be thus propagated quite easily from large clumps. It typically flowers in the fall, producing rose-scarlet and pink flowers ​[1]​. The species produces nectar, and because the plant and its inflorescences are small, it is mostly pollinated by bees and small insects ​[1]​.

Aloe rauhii is self-incompatible; pollen from a flower will not germinate on the stigma of a flower from the same specimen ​[1]​. However, it will hybridize liberally with other species, and even with species from the genus Gasteria. But only hybrids with other Madagascan species are known to be fertile ​[1]​.

The species is not frost-tolerant. It grows and can tolerate much watering during the summer months, but can also use some shade under heavy direct sunlight ​[1]​.

Physical Characteristics