Aloiampelos juddii

It is one of the few members of the tribe Aloeae that are indigenous to the fynbos vegetation type and it is closely related to the similarly rare Aloiampelos commixta of Table Mountain.

Like this species, it is a slender, multi-stemmed succulent plant, with semi-erect stems that often sprawl along the ground and over rocks.

In October and November it produces brilliant displays of bright red flowers, that are usually swiftly eaten by the tiny "Klipspringer" antelope that live in the area.

It occurs on rocky, south-east facing slopes, in sands derived from Table Mountain Sandstone (Nardouw subgroup).

This plant has yet to be classified according to the IUCN Red List but is nevertheless rare and restricted to a very small natural range.

Image of cultivated plant with inflorescence
Aloiampelos juddii in its rocky habitat
Detail of inflorescence