Susanne Lipps - Madeira

46

In the Gardens

Sword Aloe

Aloe arborescens

Bloom time

From October to February.

Characteristics

The slender, fleshy leaves have serrated margins. They are organized in dense rosettes with a diameter of about 50 cm (20‘‘). Several rosettes are situated on each of the short, branched trunks. Long stalks with various cone-shaped, shining red flowers emerge out of every rosette.

Site:

In the southern coastal regions the Sword Aloe is one of the most popular ornamen-tal plants lining the roadsides (up to an alti-tude of 600 m (656 yd.), although mostly on a lower level). It is often cultivated in gar-dens, parks and around special points of view. Sometimes it becomes wild in fallow land.

Interesting to know:

The Sword Aloe is native to South Africa. The remaining 200 Aloe species are also originating from Africa, Madagascar and Arabia. Although on the first sight you may observe a striking sim-ilarity with Agaves, the two genera are only dis-tant relatives. The latter’s habitat is restricted on the regions between the south of the U. S. A. and South America. Anyway, both genera were lead independently to similar adaptations and to a similar outer appearance by comparable living conditions in interim habitats between savannah and desert (thorn bush savannah).

47

In the Gardens

Bear’s Breech

Acanthus mollis

Bloom time

From May to July.

Characteristics

The herbal plant develops candle-shaped inflorescences that grow up to 1 m (3,3‘) tall. The tongue-shaped single blooms are whitish with pur-ple veins. The superior lobe of the calyx is remarkably enlarged. The large, dark green leaves are strongly lobed and have substantial leaf veins.

Site:

You will mostly find Bear’s Breech in gardens in the south of the island, up to an altitude of 600 m (655 yd.). It often grows wild along streets or levadas. You can see numerous specimens in the Palheiro Gardens at the entrance to the Camellia Avenue. You will also encounter it in Camacha.

Interesting to know:

The Bear’s Breech is native to the Mediterra-nean region and Asia Minor. As those of the Spiny Bear’s Breech (Acanthus spinosus), its leaves served as models for the ornaments at the pillar capitals of the Corinthian temple in ancient Greek. Later this symbol of fertil-ity was taken over by the Romans. Since the 15th century it has been picked up again and again in European architecture. On Madei-ra you may often find it in form of ceramic sculptures on the corners of old houses’ tiled roofs. They symbolize the large number of chil-dren that shall be bestowed upon the family.

48

In the Gardens

Rosea Ice Plant

Drosanthemum floribundum

Bloom time

From April to July.

Characteristics

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