Described in 1998 (KuaS 49[7]:157), this is one of the many recent discoveries of Swiss explorers W. Röösli and R. Hoffmann; their annual journeys into the wilds of Madagascar continue to yield new and wonderful succulents for cultivation and study. This species is somewhat unusual in forming thickets of nearly uniform understory vegetation in forests. Actually, its tolerance for shade is more characteristic of the subgenus Lomatophyllum, to which this species belongs. The fleshy-fruited lomatophyllums are now considered by many authors not to merit generic distinction, hence the original description of this species as an aloe. HBG 89137, plants from controlled pollination of Röösli & Hoffmann 4393, plants collected Dec. 14, 1993, at the type locality: Berevo, Madagascar, near Morondava, at about 70 m. alt. in quartz sand in forest with Pachypodium bicolor and Uncarina leandrii var. rechbergeri. $7.50.
Published in the Cactus and Succulent Journal, Vol. 75 (2), March - April, 2003