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
striata
Refers to striations—conspicuous longitudinal lines—on the leaf surfaces
Aloe is from the Greek word for the dried juice of this plant; striata refers
to the many fine lines that appear on the leaves. This aloe is native to the western and eastern
cape provinces of South Africa, and is not found in the wild in North America.
Identification: This aloe is up to 1½′ (45 cm) tall and
2′ (60 cm) around. It does not have a stem. Leaves are blue-green in color, with
red-brown teeth. They are wider at the base, more triangular in shape, than many aloe leaves.
Flowers appear atop a long, branched stalk, and are a very attractive coral color, between orange and pink, on a raceme 8-12″ (20-30 cm)
in height. Blooms appear between January and July.