Aloe vera

• Botanical Name : Aloe vera (L.) Burm.f.
• Synonyms : Aloe barbadensis Mill., Aloe vulgaris Lam
• Common Name : Kuwarpathu
• Plant Family : Liliaceae
• Plant Form : Succulents
• Occurrence (Sectors) : 1, 2, 4 - 6, 10, 12 - 14, 19 - 28, 30
• Occurrence (Special Areas) : Gujarat Forestry Research Foundation, Indroda Park, Ayurvedic Udyan, Van Chetana Kendra, Basan

About Aloe vera Plant :

• Habit : Succulent.
• Stem : Very short on which vase like leaves are arranged in rosette manner.
• Leaves : Radical, very fleshy, broad at base, narrowed from base to apex, pale green with distant horny prickles on the margins.
• Inflorescence : Raceme, 15 - 30 cm long, flowers on scape 60 - 90 cm long, simple or branched.
• Flowers :
  • Small, tubular yellowish orange.
  • Perianthabout an inch or more in length, segment 6, concave.
  • Stamens 6 - filaments slender.Anthers versatile.
  • Ovary superior, 3 - celled, ovules many, styles exerted, stigma small.
• Fruit : Capsule, 3 - angled.
• Flowering and Fruiting time : August - December.
• Significance :
  • Aloes are used as a stomachic and purgative.
  • It is regarded as valuable in the treatment off piles and rectal fissures.
  • The mucilage is cooling and is used for poultice for inflammations.
  • The whole plant is often kept hanging in houses and stables to drive away mosquitoes.