Aloe

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Aloe

Aloe is a genus of over 500 species of flowering succulent plants. The most widely known species is Aloe vera, or "true aloe". It is cultivated as the standard source of so-called "aloe vera" for assorted pharmaceutical purposes. Other species, such as Aloe ferox, also are cultivated or harvested from the wild for similar applications.

Description

Aloe plants are characterized by rosettes of large, thick, fleshy leaves. The leaves are often lance-shaped with a sharp apex and a spiny margin. Aloe flowers are tubular, frequently yellow, orange or red and are borne, densely clustered and pendant, at the apex of simple or branched, leafless stems.

Uses

Aloes are frequently used in herbal medicine, also known as phytotherapy. They have a variety of uses in traditional and modern medicine. The clear gel found inside Aloe leaves is used topically to soothe and heal burns, wounds, and skin conditions such as psoriasis. Some Aloe species also have medicinal uses. For example, Aloe vera juice is used internally for digestive discomfort.

Cultivation

Aloes are native to tropical and southern Africa, Madagascar, Jordan, the Arabian Peninsula, and various islands in the Indian Ocean. They are cultivated worldwide, primarily as a crop for "Aloe gel". They can be grown in large plantations or in individual pots, both indoors and outdoors.

Species

There are over 500 species of Aloe, including Aloe vera, Aloe ferox, and Aloe arborescens. Each species has its own specific care requirements and medicinal uses.

See also

External links

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