Means “goddess” in ancient Sanskrit, for its reputed use as a beauty aid; some sources suggest that the name comes from Alloeh, meaning “shining bitter substance”
This aloe is a native of southern Africa, and it is not found in the wild in North America.
Identification: The rosette of spiky, thick leaves that are
characteristic of all aloes is on a short stem or on the ground. Leaves reach a height of 1′ (30 cm); if
you include the flower spike, the height can reach 5′ (1.5 m). Leaves are green, with reddish
brown teeth along the margins. The large flowerhead, up to 5′ (1.5 m) and 2½″ (7 cm) around,
is unusual in that the flowers remain entirely
covered by bracts, the specialized leaves that form the buds. Only the stamens and stigmas stick out,
and those only along a narrow band of the flowerhead at a time. The orange "flowers" aren't flowers
at all! See the Aloe comparison table.