Although aloe vera may look like a cactus, it belongs to the Asphodelaceae family, not the cactus family, according to taxonomy.
The evergreen perennial’s botanical name is A. vera, but it also goes by many other names, including A. barbadensis, A. indica, A. elongata, and more. Burn aloe and real aloe are some additional common names for this plant.
The Arabic word alloeh, which means “shining bitter material,” and the Latin word vera, which means “true,” are the sources of the term aloe.
A very small stem bears up to 39-inch long, dense leaves. When young, the succulent leaves have serrated edges and are green and spotted.
Only if the aloe is grown outside will its greenish-yellow flowers blossom, which emerge from a 35-inch-tall central spike.
The exterior green “rind or skin, a layer of latex, and the mesophyll layer, sometimes known as the “gel,” are the three primary parts of the leaves. This gel serves as a reservoir for water, allowing the plant to photosynthesize even when there is a drought.
Aloe vera gel, which contains 99 percent water and a range of vitamins, minerals, lipids, amino acids, enzymes, and anti-inflammatory hormones, is used widely in conventional and alternative medical procedures.
When applied topically, the gel can be used to treat skin conditions such acne, first- or second-degree burns, bug bites, and bedsores.
You can remove a leaf from a plant you grow at home, cut it open, and scoop out the gel to apply to bug bites or a sunburn.
A layer of yellowish latex containing aloin, which might have negative laxative effects if consumed, lies between the leaf skin and the gel. Aloe should also be avoided by people who are allergic to latex.
Aloe gel is generally safe to consume in modest amounts, say specialists at the Mayo Clinic, but “Aloe latex oral use raises safety issues.
Because of this, it is advisable to avoid ingesting any part of the plant because it can be somewhat poisonous to people and highly toxic to cats, dogs, and horses, according to the ASPCA.
Although aloe vera juice is a well-liked health product, keep in mind that aloin, the component found in latex that gives it its laxative effects, has been removed through processing and purification.
In traditional Chinese medicine, the plant is referred to as Lu Hui, and preparations from it are recommended as a “a purgative that kills parasites and treats constipation
Aside from its industrial and medical applications, this plant is a low-maintenance houseplant that adds interest to a yard. No matter where you reside, you can grow it both indoors and outdoors in USDA Hardiness Zones 9 through 11.
What distinguishes a cactus from an aloe plant?
When the aloe vera has strong prickles along the margins, it is clear where the mistake originates. However, the spikes on the cactus are the leaves, but the aloe vera has those ridges on its leaves.
See, the stem of a cactus is the juicy component, whereas the stem of an aloe vera plant is not really visible. The aloe vera plant is clearly a succulent rather than a cactus.
An aloe is what kind of plant?
More than 500 species of shrubby succulent plants in the family Asphodelaceae belong to the genus aloe, which is indigenous to Africa, Madagascar, and the Arabian Peninsula. Several species are grown for their decorative foliage, as indoor plants, and for their healing leaves.
Are aloe plants prickly?
Look no farther than the miracles of aloe vera if you’re seeking for a houseplant to cultivate that brings more than just a little color and interest to your interior area!
One of the most distinctive, lovely, and practical houseplants you can cultivate is aloe vera. The thick, thorny leaves of aloe vera are not only lovely, but they also contain a rather remarkable ingredient.
Aloe plants are a medicinal marvel since they have long been known to possess both antibacterial and antiviral capabilities. A thick, gooey gel is found in the aloe vera plant’s leaves. And that gel, which has been sought for by many different cultures for ages due to its numerous therapeutic capabilities and advantages.
In fact, the gel works well for treating dry skin, burns, minor wounds, and abrasions in addition to calming sunburns. The gel aids in both healing and infection prevention because to its antimicrobial characteristics.
Growing Your Own Aloe Vera At Home
Perhaps most importantly, aloe vera is of the simplest plants to cultivate indoors. It requires little upkeep and is long-lasting. Additionally, using its healing gel is as simple as cracking open a leaf!
Additionally, it need not always be contained to your indoor spaces. In the spring, summer, and fall, aloe vera can also be carried outside to add beauty to porches and patio areas. Here is a detailed look at how to easily cultivate and care for your own aloe vera plants.
Aloe or cactus water?
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Along with other plant-based beverages like coconut water and aloe vera juice, cactus water is the most recent beverage to enter the natural beverage industry.
The juice from the vivid pink fruit of the prickly pear, or nopal, cactus is typically used to make cactus drinks. Cactus water is hence pink in color rather than clear.
The beverage is naturally low in calories and sugar and high in minerals and antioxidants that promote good health. Additionally, because it includes electrolytes that might help with hydration, it is frequently sold to athletes.
Also useful for skin treatment, cactus water is an ingredient in many cosmetic and beauty products.
Cactus water comes in a variety of brands, but you can easily brew your own at home with prickly pear fruit and a few basic ingredients.
This page discusses cactus water, including its composition in nutrients, advantages, and preparation.
A succulent: Cactus or not?
What distinguishes a succulent from a cactus? The only plant that can survive in a hot south window, where the light shines through the glass intensified, is a cactus. Any plant that stores water in juicy leaves, stems, or roots to resist recurring droughts is considered a succulent. Some people accept non-fleshy desert plants while others exclude plants with flesh, such as epiphytic orchids (yuccas, puyas).
Cactus is merely a type of succulent that can hold moisture and is classified separately from other succulents (cacti is the plural form of cactus in Latin) (Cactaceae). On the other hand, not every succulent is a cactus. In addition to being close relatives of the pointsetta, geranium, lily, grape, amaryllis, crassula, daisy, and milkweed, succulents are members of approximately 40 botanical families that are distributed throughout the world.
The name “cactus” derives from the Greek word “kaktos,” which means “spiny plant.” The ancient Greeks used this word to describe a species that was actually an artichoke variety rather than a cactus. 2000 years later, Linnaeus, who classified plants, gave a family of plants with distinctive characteristics like thick stems that served as water reservoirs, prickly or hairy coverings, and few, if any, leaves the name Cactaceae.
Cacti are simple to spot. They rarely have leaves because they have to work so hard to stay alive. They have stems that have been altered into cylinders, pads, or joints that store water during dry spells. Skin thickness lowers evaporation. For defense against browsing animals, the majority of species have bristles or spines, but some lack them, and others have long hair or a woolly covering. Large and vibrant flowers are the norm. Fruit may be both edible and colorful.
Every cactus has leaves when it is still a seedling. Additionally, some plants briefly produce tiny leaves on their new growth each spring. The majority of cactus progressively lost their leaves as shifting climatic patterns transformed native environments into deserts, evaporating too much limited water into the dry air. They switched to storing the water that was available in their stems. To adapt the size of their evaporation surfaces to changing conditions, many may modify their shape. When moisture is abundant, ribs that resemble an accordion can extend; when there is a drought, they can contract.
The majority of succulents, such as aloes, hawthorias, crassulas, and echeveria, originated in environments with less harsh conditions than cactus, such as those with rainy seasons followed by protracted dry seasons. They all have leaves. Their leaves gradually grew fattened by water-storing tissues and covered in a waxy or horny substance that lessens evaporation from the surface to help them get through the dry spells.
From Canada, through Central America, the West Indies, and south to the chilly regions of Chile and Patagonia, the cactus (Cactaceae) family can be found (southern end of South America). The largest collection may be in Mexico, but there are also a large number in the western deserts of the United States and at higher elevations in the Cordilleras of Peru, Bolivia, and Argentina.
The majority of succulents are native to milder, semi-desert regions of the planet (Mexico, South Africa). Some (such as sedums and sempervivums) are native to cooler regions where they thrive on sunny, rocky ledges and slopes. Although there are many succulents around the world, not all succulents are desert plants. They can be found on mountains, in jungles, and next to bodies of water. Succulents can be found in semi-arid parts of North and South America, Asia, and Africa, but many also live in rain forests. Succulents can be found in the mountains where they can survive inclement weather, strong winds, and poor soil. Aeonium is a succulent native to Africa, the Canary and Madeira Islands; Agave is a succulent native to the Americas; Aloe is a succulent native to Africa, the Mediterranean, and Atlantic islands; Cotyledon is a succulent native to semi-arid regions of Africa; Crassula is a succulent native to mostly Africa; Dudleya is a succulent native to coastal California and Mexico; Faucaria is a succulent native to South Africa; Sempervivum: North Africa, Asia Minor, and Central and Southern Europe.
Can aloe vera be consumed?
You can eat the skin and gel of aloe vera. Particularly the gel might have a number of health advantages. To ensure that no latex, which has an unpleasant bitter taste and may have negative side effects, remains, be sure to properly wash the gel or the skin. Never ingest aloe vera products intended for skin care.
Where is the origin of aloe?
For millennia, people have known and used the aloe vera plant for its benefits to their health, appearance, and skin. The Arabic term aloeh, which means “shining bitter material,” and the Latin word vera, which means “true,” are the sources of the name aloe vera. Greek scientists believed that aloe vera was a universal cure-all 2000 years ago. Aloe was known to the Egyptians as “the herb of immortality.” The aloe vera plant is used in dermatology nowadays for a variety of treatments.
History
Greece, Egypt, India, Mexico, Japan, and China are just a few of the cultures that have employed aloe vera for therapeutic purposes for millennia. 1 The Egyptian princesses Cleopatra and Nefertiti utilized it as a regular part of their beauty regimens. It was used to cure soldiers’ wounds by Alexander the Great and Christopher Columbus. John Goodyew’s translation of Dioscorides’ medical book De Materia Medica in A.D. 1655 had the earliest mention of aloe vera in written English. 2 Aloe vera was already being used in America as a laxative by the early 1800s, but in the middle of the 1930s, something changed when it was successfully utilized to treat chronic and severe radiation dermatitis. 2
Plant
Aloe barbadensis miller is the name of the plant that produces aloe vera. It is a shrubby or arborescent, perennial, xerophytic, succulent, pea-green plant that is a member of the Liliaceae family. Africa, Asia, Europe, and America’s dry climates are where it primarily grows. It can be found in Tamil Nadu, Gujarat, Maharashtra, Rajasthan, and Andhra Pradesh in India.
Anatomy
The plant bears fruits with many seeds, yellow tubular blooms, and triangular, fleshy leaves with serrated edges. Three layers make up each leaf: 1) An interior clear gel comprised of glucomannans, amino acids, lipids, sterols, and vitamins is 99 percent water. 2) The anthraquinones and glycosides found in the middle layer of latex, which is the acrid yellow sap. 3) The rind is the outside, thick layer of 1520 cells that serves as a protective covering and produces proteins and carbs. Vascular bundles located inside the rind are in charge of moving materials like water (xylem) and starch (phloem). 3
Aloe is it toxic?
Depending on how much aloe they ingested and how quickly they obtain care, a person’s prognosis will vary. The likelihood of recovery is improved the sooner medical assistance is provided.
Aloe is not particularly toxic. Typically, no treatment is required. But if you swallow it, you’ll probably get diarrhea.
Aloe can cause serious allergic reactions in a small percentage of persons. If a rash, tightness in the throat, trouble breathing, or chest pain appear, get medical attention.
What is the benefit of aloe?
Antioxidants, which aid in the battle against free radicals, are plentiful in aloe vera juice. Your body experiences less oxidative stress as a result, which lowers your risk of developing chronic diseases like diabetes, heart disease, or even cancer. Vitamin C is another essential component of aloe vera juice.
Which aloe species are toxic?
Nearly fifty different varieties of aloe may be found in Kenya, three of which are extremely poisonous. Aloe vera, the supposedly miraculous plant, is well known, and many people wrongly refer to all aloes as being Aloe vera.
This has had negative effects that go beyond simple misconceptions. Eating the incorrect aloe or applying the incorrect aloe to a wound can be lethal mistakes.
Aloe ballyi, Aloe elata, and Aloe ruspoliana are the three poisonous Aloe species. These species produce leaf sap that smells really rotten. The first two kinds are fortunately not very common and unusual, but it’s necessary to identify aloes before trying to use them medicinally.
Commercial aloe sap harvesting has taken the place of the president’s ban on collecting aloes that are growing wild. There is a chance that this sap may truly come from toxic aloes due to ignorance.
It’s true that some Aloe species’ leaves have medical uses. And many regional beverages use Aloe volkensii roots, for instance, which are often combined with other plants. But take care! Succulenta East Africa’s purpose includes educating people about the dangers that exist and the fact that not all types of aloe are therapeutic.