Common soap aloe, African aloe
Aloe maculata

Family: Xanthorrhoeaceae

What it is like

A shrub. It does not have a stem. It grows in a ring. The main ring can be 40 cm tall. The leaves are thick and succulent and 25 cm long. There are sharp dark brown teeth along the edge. The leaves have white freckles. The flowers are tube shaped and red, orange or yellow.

Also put in the family Aloaceae. Also put in the family Asphodelaceae.

Where it is found

It grows in warm temperate places. It can grow in arid places. In Brisbane Botanical gardens.

Countries/locations it is found in

Africa, Asia, Australia, Eswatini, India, Lesotho, Mauritius, Mexico, New Zealand, North America, South Africa, Southern Africa, Swaziland, Tasmania

How it is used for food

The stem is eaten as a vegetable. The leaves are eaten as a vegetable.

Edible parts

Heart, growing tip, leaves, flowers

How it is grown

Its other names

Local names

Emahala, Lihala

Synonyms

Aloe obscura Mill.; Aloe gasterioides Baker; Aloe grahamii Schönland; Aloe trichotoma Colla; Aloe tricolor Baker; Aloe umbellata DC.; Aloe umfoloziensis Reynolds; Aloe commutata Tod.; Aloe disticha Mill.; Aloe saponaria (Aiton) Haw.; Aloe spuria A. Berger; Aloe latifolia (Haw.) Haw.; Aloe leptophylla N. E. Br. ex Baker; Aloe macracantha Baker; Aloe maculosa Lam.; Aloe picta Thunb.;