Aloe pronkii Lavranos, Rakouth and McCoy (2006)

DESCRIPTION: Miniature, slow-growing, succulent, perennial herb, solitary, not (or rarely) forming clusters, consisting of a miniature to small, laxly foliate, open rosette, 60–80 mm diam., 80–100 mm tall. Roots thickened, spindle-shaped, tapering to both ends. Stems absent or very short, then subterranean. Leaves numerous, rosulate, succulent but thin, grass-like, attenuate, gradually tapering to nonpungent apex, 80–100 mm long, 4–5 mm broad at base, basally sheathing, erect to outwardly slightly spreading, especially when young, apex dry, not reflexed, fresh leaves not bleeding when damaged, cut surface drying opaquely greenish brown, dry leaves easily abscising; upper surface flat to convex, not canaliculate, uniformly dull midgreen to brownish green, spots absent, very finely tuberculate, rough to the touch; lower surface convex, uniformly dull midgreen; margins lacking a whitish or brownish, translucent edge, armed with very fine, saw-tooth-like, nonpungent teeth; teeth white, straight, 0.5 mm long, closely spaced, 0.2–0.5 mm distant, ± evenly spaced. Inflorescence asimple, unbranched, solitary raceme, 150–200 mm tall. Peduncle basally rounded, 2.0–2.5 mm broad at base, matt dull green lower down, reddish pink along flowering portion, sterile bracteate, sterile bracts up to 6 mm long, 1.5–2.0 mm broad at base, perched on a swollen red base, thin, scarious, few-veined, whitish green lower down on peduncle, light brown to straw-coloured higher up. Racemes distinctly cylindrical, laxly flowered, flowering portion up to 130 mm long;
DISTRIBUTION: Madagascar (Antananarivo Prov, west of Antsirabe)
CULTIVATION: not easy to grow, still rare. It is exceedingly tolerant of varying rainfall regimes and different soil types. Temperature-wise it has shown no damage whatsoever from exposure to temperatures of as low as -4oC and as high as 38oC.

A. pronkii seedling	A. pronkii seedling