Aloe vera
COMMON NAME | Aloe vera |
TYPE | Low Foliage |
FAMILY | Asphodelaceae |
NOTES | A stemless or very
short-stemmed plant growing to 24–39 inches tall, spreading by offsets. The
leaves are thick and fleshy, green to grey-green, with some varieties showing
white flecks on their upper and lower stem surfaces. The margin of the leaf
is serrated and has small white teeth. The flowers are produced in summer on
a spike up to 35 in tall, each flower being pendulous, with a yellow tubular
corolla. Aloe vera, the ‘plant of immortality’
according to Ancient Egyptians, is said to have been used by Cleopatra as
part of her beauty regime more than 2,000 years ago. Today, the gel inside
Aloe vera leaves is the magic ingredient behind many sunburn remedies,
cosmetic products, and tonics that aid digestion. Aloe vera is one of the
most used plants in the world. |
GEOGRAPHIC REGION | Arabian Peninsula |
NATIVE HABITAT | Rocky and exposed
areas in dry climates |
WEB SOURCES |
