This rare Madagascan species is known from only a few small populations in the Fort Dauphin region of the Toliara Province of SW Madagascar where it grows in thorn forest in sandy soils. It is described as a solitary, arborescent species to about 4 m tall superficially resembling the tropical South African coastal species A. thraskii, but in cultivation it is known to offset from the base. The trunk is topped by a rosette of channeled, recurved leaves that can blush red in bright light or when drought stressed. The racemes are less than a foot long and are clustered at the apex. Like the southern African A. rupestris, the racemes are cylindrical, resembling the inflorescences of the Australian protea relatives in the genus Banksia. The red flower buds fade to pale yellow before opening with flaring petals. We offer tissue cultured plants of HBG 108610, from material from the Institute for Aloe Studies. The specific epithet honors Helen Decary whose married name is also familiar from a number of thorn forest plants that bear her husband Raymond Decary’s name. $15.
Published in the Cactus and Succulent Journal, Vol. 91 (2), Summer 2019