Aloe, << AL oh, >> is the name of a group of hundreds of fleshy-leaved plants native to the Middle East, Madagascar, and southern Africa. They are often cultivated in regions with warm climates.
Aloe plants range in height from a few inches or centimeters to 30 feet (9 meters) or more. The leaves of many species become large. They are lance-shaped and sharp-pointed, with jagged edges that end in sharp hooks. The leaves usually grow directly from the ground in the form of a large rosette. From the center of this rosette springs the flowering stalk that ends in a dense cluster of yellow or reddish tube-shaped flowers. The century plant, also called American aloe, is similar in appearance but unrelated.
Farmers in southern Texas raise large quantities of the Barbados aloe, also known as aloe vera. This species also is a common houseplant. Its leaves contain a bitter juice. Manufacturers heat the juice at low temperatures to produce a powder and a gel. The powder is used in medicine as a laxative and as an ingredient in some dietary supplements. Aloe gel is colorless and feels cool on the skin. It is used to make a wide variety of cosmetics, including skin creams, shampoos, and suntan lotions. Research has shown that aloe gel is effective in treating burns and frostbite.
Certain African species of aloe have fibers in their leaves that are used for making rope, fishing nets, and coarse cloth. Others have a finer fiber that is used to make lace, and some species are used to make violet dye.
