Aloe tongaensis
Aloidendron tongaense, formerly Aloe tongaensis, is a species of plant in the genus Aloidendron, native to sandy tropical coastal forests in KwaZulu-Natal, at the border between Mozambique and South Africa. The specific Latin epithet tongaense, refers to Tongaland in northern, coastal Zululand. This plant has long been considered to be the Mozambique form of the tree aloe, Aloe barberae that grows in the summer rainfall eastern regions of southern Africa. Grower Kevin Coniff named the plant Aloe barberae (Aloe bainesii) ‘Medusa” in the 1980's. He noticed that these plants grew quite differently from typical Aloe barberae, branching and flowering at a younger age and producing pale orange-yellow flowers, instead of pink flowers. In 1994 John Lavranos identified these plants as the Mozambique form of Aloe barberae and noted that the seed for Coniff’s original plants was collected along the Mozambique coast near its capital Maputo. The new species, Aloe tongaensis, was officially described 2011. Leaf size and width alone is one of the best indicators that Aloe tongaensis is not just another Aloe barberae. Eventually Aloe barberaes develop into massive trees, something which Aloe tongensis seem reluctant to do (only growing up to maybe 15 feet tall), and trunk diameter, though pretty thick, pales compared to those of mature Aloe barberaes. Cultivationally the two are very similar, however, with both being among the most cold sensitive of all the aloes, reluctant to die from freezing, but badly damaged at temps below 28F (Aloe tongaensis seems a bit tougher in this respect). read more