Aloe megalacantha var. megalacantha (Large-toothed aloe)

These aloes are native to Ethiopia (Harar Province), and Somalia. They are also called Aloe megalacantha subsp. megalacantha.

Plants: This species occurs in groups and is 1½–6½′ (50–200 cm) in height.

Leaves: Leaves occur on the upper portion of the stem, in group of 24 or more. Old leaves form a skirt around the lower trunk. Leaves are 2–2½′ ⨉ 5–6″ (60–80 ⨉ 13–15 cm), curving back on themselves. They are glossy green and deeply furrowed, with hard pink edges and reddish brown teeth that are ~3/16″ (5–6 mm) long.

Flowers: Flowering stalks are heavily branched, about 3′ (1 m) tall, supporting cone-like flowerheads with red or yellow flowers.

Habitats: Rocky slopes, sandy terrains in open bushland, at elevations of 3609–6070′ (1.1–1.9 km).

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”
Species	megalacantha	“Black thorn”
var.	megalacantha	“Black thorn”

About plant names...

Range: Zones 9b-11:

About this map...

Aloe megalacantha var. megalacantha description by Thomas H. Kent, not updated.