Aloe nuttii
Family: Xanthorrhoeaceae
What it is like
A herb. It has a short thick stem. This is 20 cm long and 3 cm thick. It can have 3 rings of leaves at the base. The leaves are erect and bright green. They are 50 cm long by 8 cm wide. The upper surface is concave. There are white spots underneath. The edges of the leaves have small white teeth about 1 mm long. The flowers are in a spike about 75 cm long. There are large bracts that are orange to brown. These wrap around the stem. The flowers are near each bract. The fruit is an oval capsule. It is pale brown and 2.5 cm long. There are many dark brown seeds.
Also put in the family Aloaceae. Also put in the family Asphodelaceae.
Where it is found
It is a tropical plant. In Tanzania it grows in mountain grassland often on rocky slopes. It grows between 1,600-2,700 m above sea level.
Countries/locations it is found in
Africa, Angola, Central Africa, Congo, East Africa, Malawi, Tanzania, Zambia
How it is used for food
The flowers are used as a vegetable. They are washed and then cooked with other vegetables.
Edible parts
Flowers, vegetable
How it is grown
It can be grown by seeds or suckers.
Flowers are collected at the end of the rainy season.
Its other names
Local names
Ikori, Ikuri, Iratune, Itembwe, Kidingulio, Kongokowe, Kisimamleo, Litembwetembwe, Mshumbili, Msubili