ORDER | : Asparagales |
FAMILY | : Xanthoorrhoeaceae |
GENUS | : Aloe L. |
SPECIES | : vera L. |
BOTANICAL NAME | : Aloe vera (L.) Burm.f. |
SYNONYMS | : Aloe vulgaris Lam. |
COMMON NAME | : Aloe vera, Burn plant. |
TAMIL NAME | : Kathalai. |
HINDI NAME | : Gheekumari |
HABIT : Succulent. |
STEM : Very short on which vase like leaves are arranged in rosette manner. |
LEAVES : Radical, very fleshy, broad at base, narrowed from base to apex, pale green with distant horny prickles on the margins. |
INFLORESCENCE : Raceme, 15 - 30 cm long, flowers on scape 60 - 90 cm long, simple or branched. |
FLOWERS : Small, tubular yellowish orange. Perianthabout an inch or more in length, segment 6, concave. Stamens 6 - filaments slender.Anthers versatile. Ovary superior, 3 - celled, ovules many, styles exerted, stigma small. |
FRUIT : Capsule, 3 - angled. |
FLOWERING AND FRUITING TIME : August - December. |
Aloe is used topically (applied to the skin) and orally. |
Antioxidants are important for health. Aloe vera gel contains Trusted Source powerful antioxidants belonging to a large family of substances known as polyphenols. |
Topical use of aloe is promoted for acne, lichen planus (a very itchy rash on the skin or in the mouth), oral submucous fibrosis, burning mouth syndrome, burns, and radiation-induced skin toxicity. |