A CHEMOTAXONOMIC AND BIOCHEMICAL EVALUATION OF THE IDENTITY OF ALOE-CANDELABRUM (ALOACEAE)

In situ morphological analysis of plants from the entire distribution area supports the assumption that Aloe candelabrum, by its reproductiv e and vegetative characters, falls well within the taxonomic concept o f A. ferox. The identical chemical composition of leaf exudate with re gard to secondary compounds (chromone and anthrone derivatives) suppor ts this conclusion. Gene products at 23 enzyme-coding loci, analyzed b y horizontal starch gel-electrophoresis, revealed no fixed allele diff erences between A. candelabrum and A. ferox. The differences on which the two species were previously separated can be explained as local va riation within a single and widespread taxon. A. candelabrum should th erefore be subsumed under A. ferox.