Aloes are succulent plants originating in southern and eastern Africa and Madagascar.
The genus name Aloe is derived from the Arabic word alloeh, which translates to ‘a shiny bitter
substance’ in reference to the exudate. It is estimated that there are over 500
species of Aloe that are distributed throughout Africa.
Aloes are well represented in southern Africa and especially South Africa, where they form an
important component of the local taxonomy, ethnomedicinal economy and horticultural flora. ‘Ferox’, meaning ferocious, in the botanical name of Aloe ferox, was given to the species due to the thorny sharp reddish spines of the leaves.
Aloe ferox species is part of the family Xanthorrhoeaceae (formerly Asphodelaceae), a diverse family
of plants with few characteristics uniting the subfamilies. Characteristics, which do unite the
subfamilies of Xanthorrhoeaceae, are the presence of anthraquinones (a yellow highly crystalline
solid) in the plants and the presence of flowers typically borne on leafless stalks that arise from a basal
rosette of leaves.
Aloe ferox is a shallow rooted, long-lived succulent plant species that is characterised by its tree-like
shape. The species is indigenous to South Africa, found in the Free State, KwaZulu-Natal, Eastern Cape
and Western Cape Provinces of the country. The Aloe ferox plant is characterised by a single stem
which is clothed in a persistent skirt of dry leaves and can reach heights greater than 2 metres. On
the main stem of Aloe ferox are rosettes of succulent leaves which form the basis for a thriving Aloe
ferox industry in South Africa.
Aloe ferox is the most commercially utilized indigenous plant in South Africa, with bitters and aloe
gels extracted from the leaves of the plants and utilized in cosmetics, hygiene products and as
complementary medicines. The Aloe ferox industry provides significant socio-economic benefits to
South African, including benefits to poor individuals who derive an income from harvesting of the
plants. The industry also supports a range of businesses in the country, producing Aloe ferox products
for the local and international market. Large volumes of the species have also been exported since the
1980s.
Aloe Ferox – Lily of the Desert is famous for its medicinal qualities. The juices and gels made of the Aloe Ferox are very potent and are used for cosmetics, wound care, skin problems and general wellness, a natural health product.
Aloe ferox is among the tallest of the more than 400 aloe species and is native to southeastern and western regions of South Africa. Compared to the more widely known Aloe vera, Aloe ferox produces 20 times more bitter sap and has higher nutrient concentrations. Two distinct parts of the aloe plant are used medicinally. Firstly the aloe exudate (bitter sap) and secondly the mucilaginous gel from the remainder of the leaf.
Source: Department of Environmental Affairs. Resource Assessment for Aloe ferox in South Africa. October 2014
