Aloe (Aloe)

Aloe L.

Aloe

Somewhat surprisingly, aloes are closely related to the lily family. These dry-adapted plants store water in their thick, serrated leaves and produce stunning spikes of brightly colored flowers. Most aloes are natives of southern regions of Africa. The commonly-used medicinal plant, Aloe vera, is one of 450 members of this genus. Also check out these aloe photos on Wikimedia Commons.

Online References:

Encyclopedia of Succulents

Wikimedia Commons

References:

van Wyk, Ben-Erik; Smith, Gideon, Guide to the Aloes of South Africa, Briza, 1998

(Aloe) · 2/26/2010 · By Robert Edmonston Species not yet identified

(Aloe) · 2/24/2010 · San Diego (Quail) Botanic Garden, Encinitas, California Species not yet identified

(Aloe) · 1/5/2026 · South Africa · By Benjamin Winslow ID is dubious

(Aloe) · 2/26/2010 · San Diego Zoo, San Diego, California Species not yet identified

(Aloe) · 9/7/2010 · New England Botanic Garden at Tower Hill, Boylston, Massachusetts · ≈ 12 × 14″ (29 × 35 cm) Species not yet identified

(Aloe) · 9/7/2010 · New England Botanic Garden at Tower Hill, Boylston, Massachusetts · ≈ 7 × 10″ (17 × 24 cm) Species not yet identified

Aloe (Aloe) · 2/24/2010 · San Diego (Quail) Botanic Garden, Encinitas, California Species not yet identified

(Aloe) · 1/5/2026 · South Africa · By Benjamin Winslow ID is dubious

(Aloe) · 5/25/2009 · Boyce Thompson Arboretum, Superior, Arizona · ≈ 1 × 1½′ (37 × 53 cm) Species not yet identified

(Aloe) · 2/26/2010 · San Diego Zoo, San Diego, California Species not yet identified

(Aloe) · 4/11/1979 · Huntington Library Desert Garden, San Marino, California Species not yet identified

(Aloe) · 2/26/2010 · San Diego Zoo, San Diego, California Species not yet identified

(Aloe) · 2/24/2010 · San Diego (Quail) Botanic Garden, Encinitas, California Species not yet identified

Aloe (Aloe) · 2/24/2010 · San Diego (Quail) Botanic Garden, Encinitas, California · ≈ 1½ × 1′ (47 × 41 cm) Species not yet identified

(Aloe) · 2/24/2010 · San Diego (Quail) Botanic Garden, Encinitas, California Species not yet identified

Kingdom	Plantae	Plants, but not fungi, lichens, or algae (from Stearn's Botanical Latin)
Subkingdom	Tracheobionta	Vascular plants—plants with a “circulatory system” for delivering water and nutrients
Division	Magnoliophyta	Flowering plants, also known as angiosperms
Class	Liliopsida	Monocots (plants with a single seed leaf); includes the lily family
Subclass	Liliidae	Includes lilies, orchids, and many others
Order	Asparagales	A diverse group that includes asparagus
Family	Xanthorrhoeaceae	Aloes, many tropical plants, flax lilies, daylilies, many others
Genus	Aloe	Means “goddess” in ancient Sanskrit, for its reputed use as a beauty aid; some sources suggest that the name comes from Alloeh, meaning “shining bitter substance”

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Aloe description by Thomas H. Kent, not updated.