Aloe ferox

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Aloe ferox
Aloe Ferox between Cofimvaba and Ngcobo.jpg
Aloe ferox on the R61 route between Cofimvaba and Ngcobo.
Scientific classification OOjs UI icon edit-ltr.svg
Kingdom: Plantae
Clade: Tracheophytes
Clade: Angiosperms
Clade: Monocots
Order: Asparagales
Family: Asphodelaceae
Subfamily: Asphodeloideae
Genus: Aloe
Species:
A. ferox
Binomial name
Aloe ferox
Synonyms [1]
  • Aloe candelabrum A.Berger nom. illeg.
  • Aloe galpinii Baker
  • Aloe horrida Haw.
  • Aloe muricata Haw.
  • Aloe pallancae Guillaumin nom. inval.
  • Aloe perfoliata var. ferox (Mill.) Aiton
  • Aloe pseudoferox Salm-Dyck
  • Aloe subferox Spreng.
  • Aloe supralaevis Haw.
  • Busipho ferox (Mill.) Salisb. nom. inval.
  • Pachidendron ferox (Mill.) Haw.
  • Pachidendron pseudoferox (Salm-Dyck) Haw.
  • Pachidendron supralaeve (Haw.) Haw.

Aloe ferox, commonly known as bitter aloe, is a species of flowering plant in the family Asphodelaceae. This woody aloe is indigenous to southern Africa. [2] [3] It is one of several Aloe species used to make bitter aloes, a purgative medication, [4] and also yields a non-bitter gel that can be used in cosmetics. [5]

Contents

Description

Typical inflorescence of the bitter aloe, with up to eight erect, cylindrical, symmetrical racemes. Aloe ferox00.jpg
Typical inflorescence of the bitter aloe, with up to eight erect, cylindrical, symmetrical racemes.
Spines on the inner side of a leaf Aloe ferox in pot D150326 - thorns on the inner side of a leaf.jpg
Spines on the inner side of a leaf
Large bitter aloe in flower. Aloe ferox MS2011ZA029.jpg
Large bitter aloe in flower.

Aloe ferox is a tall, single-stemmed aloe, that can grow to 10 feet (3.0 m) in height. Its leaves are thick and fleshy, arranged in rosettes, and have reddish-brown spines on the margins with smaller spines on the upper and lower surfaces. The leaf surfaces of young plants are covered in spines; however, as they get taller and less vulnerable to grazing, the leaves begin to lose most of their spines except for those along the leaf margins. Plants in the western part of its natural range tend to keep more of their leaf surface spines.

Its flowers are a uniform orange or red, and stand between 2 and 4 feet (0.61 and 1.22 m) above the leaves, in multi-branched inflorescences. [5]

It is a variable species, and plants may differ physically from area to area, due to local conditions. This aloe is frequently confused with the related Aloe excelsa species, to the north, and they do look very similar when fully grown. However, the flowers are different, with the racemes of Aloe excelsa being far shorter and slightly curved.

Altogether, the bitter aloe can be distinguished from its closest relatives: by its more compact, erect leaves with 6mm reddish-brown teeth on the margins and also on the keel of the leaf near the leaf tip; by their erect candelabra inflorescences, which bear up to eight very dense, cylindrical, symmetrical, 50–80 cm racemes; and by their un-curved, tubular flowers with brown inner segment tips. [4]

Distribution and habitat

Its large natural range forms a near-continuous band across the Northernmost region Limpopo province, southern Cape, from Swellendam and the Overberg District in the west, throughout almost the whole extent of the Eastern Cape Province, eastwards as far as southern KwaZulu-Natal, and northwards into the southern parts of the Free State and Lesotho.

Within this range it can usually be found in rocky areas - on hills, in grassy fynbos and on the edges of the Karoo. [5]

Cultivation

Aloe ferox is known by several names - most commonly as the bitter aloe, but also as the Cape aloe, [4] [2] red aloe [5] and tap aloe.

Aloe ferox plants are propagated mainly from seed and head cuttings, with plants sowed with approximately one meter separations. From seed, it takes about 4 to 5 years for the plants to reach the first harvest. At the time of harvest, each leaf weighs about 1.5 kg to 2 kg. Aloe ferox prefers dry-tropical climates, open areas, sandy-loamy soils, full sun, and moderate watering with a good drainage system.

See also

Related Research Articles

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<i>Haworthia</i> Genus of flowering plants

Haworthia is a large genus of small succulent plants endemic to Southern Africa (Mozambique, Namibia, Lesotho, Eswatini and South Africa).

<i>Gonialoe variegata</i> Species of flowering plant

Gonialoe variegata, also known as tiger aloe and partridge-breasted aloe, is a species of flowering plant in the family Asphodelaceae. It is an evergreen succulent perennial indigenous to South Africa and Namibia. It is common in cultivation.

<i>Gasteria</i> Genus of succulent flowering plants from South Africa

Gasteria is a genus of succulent plants, native to South Africa.

<i>Aloe marlothii</i> Species of plant in the family Asphodelaceae

Aloe marlothii is a large, single-stemmed Southern African aloe of rocky places and open flat country, occasionally growing up to 6 m tall.

<i>Aloe comosa</i> Species of plant in the family Asphodelaceae

Aloe comosa is a species of flowering plant in the Asphodelaceae family. It is commonly called Clanwilliam aloe) and is endemic to South Africa.

Aloe viridiflora is a species of plant in the genus Aloe. The species is endemic to Namibia with a wide range and is known from at least six different populations. Current trends are not known and the species is listed as LC on the IUCN Red List. However, it is scarce and Namibian authorities consider it threatened; the plant must not be removed or disturbed. It is the only known green-flowering aloe. Its natural habitats are dry savanna, subtropical or tropical dry shrubland, and rocky areas. It can produce hallucinations when ingested, leading to its occasional use in shamanic rituals.

<i>Aloe excelsa</i> Species of plant in the family Asphodelaceae

Aloe excelsa is an arborescent aloe indigenous to southern Africa.

<i>Aloe africana</i> Species of succulent

Aloe africana is an arborescent (tree-like) species of aloe plant, indigenous to the Eastern Cape Province, South Africa.

<i>Aloiampelos commixta</i> Species of plant in the family Asphodelaceae

Aloiampelos commixta is a flowering plant in the Asphodelaceae family. It is commonly called Table Mountain aloe, and is a rare succulent plant that is endemic to the Cape Peninsula, South Africa. It naturally occurs only on the Table Mountain range, within the city of Cape Town.

<i>Aloiampelos striatula</i> Species of flowering plant

Aloiampelos striatula, formerly Aloe striatula, the hardy aloe or striped-stemmed aloe, is a sturdy succulent plant that naturally occurs on the summits of mountains along the south of the Karoo region of South Africa. Tough and hardy, with bright yellow flowers, it is also cultivated as a garden ornamental.

<i>Aloiampelos tenuior</i> Species of flowering plant

Aloiampelos tenuior, formerly Aloe tenuior, the fence aloe, is a bushy, multi-branched succulent plant from the grasslands and thickets of the Eastern Cape, Kwazulu Natal and Mpumalanga, South Africa. Its preferred habitat is sandy soils in open country, unlike many of its relatives that favour thicket vegetation. It is one of the most profusely flowering of all aloes and their relatives.

<i>Meconopsis horridula</i> Species of flowering plant in the poppy family Papaveraceae

Meconopsis horridula, the prickly blue poppy, is a flowering plant from the family Papaveraceae. It is an endangered species that grows in high altitudes. The height of the plant varies from 20 cm to 1m. It is a monocarpic, dicot plant.

<i>Aloe pluridens</i> Species of succulent

Aloe pluridens is an arborescent aloe indigenous to southern Africa.

<i>Aloe speciosa</i> Species of plant

Aloe speciosa is a species of flowering plant in the Asphodelaceae family. It is commonly called tilt-head aloe and is an arborescent aloe indigenous to the thicket vegetation of the southern Cape Provinces of South Africa.

<i>Aloe rupestris</i> Species of plant

Aloe rupestris is an arborescent aloe indigenous to summer-rainfall areas of southern Africa.

<i>Gasteria acinacifolia</i> Species of succulent

Gasteria acinacifolia is succulent plant native to the Eastern Cape Province, South Africa.

<i>Gasteria nitida</i> Species of succulent

Gasteria nitida, the Bathurst gasteria, is a succulent plant, native to the Eastern Cape grasslands of South Africa.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Aloeae</span> Tribe of succulent plants

Aloeae is a tribe of succulent plants in the subfamily Asphodeloideae of the family Asphodelaceae, consisting of the aloes and their close relatives. The taxon may also be treated as the subfamily Alooideae by those botanists who retain the narrower circumscription of Asphodelaceae adopted prior to the APG III system. Typically, plants have rosettes of more or less succulent leaves, with or without a distinct stem. Their flowers are arranged in racemes and tend to be either small and pale, pollinated by insects, or larger and more brightly coloured, pollinated by birds. As of 2017, 11 genera are recognized, most created since 2010 by splitting off another five genera from Aloe and another two from Haworthia. Only two genera, Aloe and Aloidendron, are native outside southern Africa, extending northwards to the Arabian Peninsula. Seven genera are restricted to South Africa, some with small ranges. Members of the Aloeae are cultivated by succulent plant enthusiasts; Aloe species especially are used in temperate climates as ornamental garden plants. Some species are used in traditional medicine. Aloe vera and Aloe ferox are cultivated for their extracts, whose uses include moisturizers and emollients in cosmetics.

<i>Aloe macroclada</i> Species of aloe

Aloe macroclada is a plant species in the genus Aloe native to Madagascar.

References

  1. "The Plant List: A Working List of All Plant Species".
  2. 1 2 "The Aloe ferox Plant". Aloe Ferox Africa. Archived from the original on 2011-07-07. Retrieved 14 May 2009.
  3. "Aloe ferox, African Flowering Plants Database". South African National Biodiversity Institute. Retrieved 14 May 2009.
  4. 1 2 3 "Aloe ferox". Floridata. Archived from the original on 1 May 2009. Retrieved 14 May 2009.
  5. 1 2 3 4 "Aloe ferox Mill". PlantZAfrica.com. Archived from the original on 7 May 2009. Retrieved 14 May 2009.