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A chemotaxonomic and biochemical evaluation of the identity of Aloe candelabrum (Aloaceae)
Author(s) -
Viljoen Alvaro M.,
Van Wyk BenErik,
Bank Herman,
Smith Gideon F.,
Bank Michelle
Publication year - 1996
Publication title -
taxon
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.819
H-Index - 81
eISSN - 1996-8175
pISSN - 0040-0262
DOI - 10.2307/1224138
Subject(s) - chemotaxonomy , biology , botany , dendrogram , taxonomy (biology) , taxon , genetic diversity , population , demography , sociology
Summary Viljoen, A. M., Van Wyk, B‐E., Van der Bank, H., Smith, G. F. & Van der Bank, M.: A chemotaxonomic and biochemical evaluation of the identity of Aloe candelabrum (Aloaceae) . – Taxon 45: 461‐471. 1996. – ISSN 0040‐0262. In situ morphological analysis of plants from the entire distribution area supports the assumption that Aloe candelabrum , by its reproductive and vegetative characters, falls well within the taxonomic concept of A. ferox. The identical chemical composition of leaf exudate with regard to secondary compounds (chromone and anthrone derivatives) supports this conclusion. Gene products at 23 enzyme‐coding loci, analyzed by horizontal starch gel‐electrophoresis, revealed no fixed allele differences between A. candelabrum and A. ferox. The differences on which the two species were previously separated can be explained as local variation within a single and widespread taxon. A. candelabrum should therefore be subsumed under A. ferox.