Aloe saponaria (Soap aloe)

This also is common in the Eastern Cape Province of South Africa to Zimbabwe and Botswana. The common name soap aloe results from the ability of its sap to suds up in water.

Leaves: The primary rosette is 12–18″ (30–45 cm) in size. Leaves are lanceolate, fleshy, and thick at the base, tapering to points, and 10–12″ (25–30 cm) long. They have prominent dark brown teeth. They are spotted with pale green spots.

Flowers: Purple stalks 2–3′ (60–90 cm) tall display roughly flat-topped inflorescences with racemes of yellow, orange, or red flowers. Each flower is 1¾–2½″ (5–7 cm) long.

Habitats: Widespread in many South African habitats, such as rocky outcrops to thicket and grasslands.

Edibility: Skull & Crossbones

Poisonous when ingested. Although sometimes used as a soap substitute, it is dangerous to open wounds.

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	saponaria	Sometimes called soapwort, the name derives from the Latin sapo, “soap,” for its soap-producing qualities

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