It is found on rocky slopes in coastal and karoo areas.
Description
Detail showing the smooth pink leaf margin of this species, key to its identification.
The coral aloe's specific epithet, striata, means "stripes", and refers to the long lines (sometimes very faint) on its blue-green leaves. The leaves of this Aloe are not toothed, but have a smooth pink margin.
Due to the similarity of their species names, Aloe striata is sometimes confused in literature with Aloiampelos striatula (syn. Aloe striatula, hardy aloe) — a very different plant, found in the highlands of the Eastern Cape.
Taxonomy
The coral aloe forms part of the Paniculatae series of very closely related Aloe species, together with Aloe reynoldsii.
This species is often confused with its close relative, Aloe reynoldsii, and they do look very similar. However the coral aloe has smooth leaf margins and red flowers; while Aloe reynoldsii has waxy, toothed leaf margins and yellow flowers.[3][4]
