Aloe alooides (Graskop aloe)

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Aloe alooides (Bolus) Druten

Graskop aloe, grass head aloe

Kingdom	Plantae	Plants, but not fungi, lichens, or algae
Subkingdom	Tracheobionta	Vascular plants—plants with a “circulatory system” for delivering water and nutrients
Division	Magnoliophyta	Flowering plants, also known as angiosperms
Class	Liliopsida	Monocots (plants with a single seed leaf); includes the lily family
Subclass	Liliidae	Includes lilies, orchids, and many others
Order	Asparagales	A diverse group that includes asparagus
Family	Xanthorrhoeaceae	Aloes, many tropical plants, flax lilies, daylilies, many others
Genus	Aloe	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”
Species	alooides

About plant names...

This aloe is a native of northeastern South Africa (Mpumalanga, formerly eastern Transvaal). Ironically, the species alooides means "resembling an aloe." Well, duh, right? Actually this wasn't always thought to be an aloe; it was once called Urginea alooides because it looked like an aloe.

Identification: These aloes have a single stem up to 6½' (2 m) high, the upper part of which is covered with old dried leaves. Leaves are green, tinged red during droughts. They are wide and so curved that they often curl back to touch the stem. Leaf margins have small teeth. Up to five unbranched, narrow flower spikes occur per plant. Each spike contains yellow flowers up to ⅜" (1 cm).