Home › Flowers & Gardening › Article

What is the difference between aloe arborescens and aloe vera? A quick guide to telling these two plants apart

Flowers & Gardening 0 views
Aloe arborescens is a species in the genus Aloe. Both belong to the Liliaceae family, look similar in many ways, and are highly valued, so quite a few people confuse them. In fact, the method for telling them apart is very simple: mainly look at the leaves and flowers. The leaves of Aloe arborescens are claw-shaped and rather narrow and long, with no spots, while those of aloe vera are slightly wider; the flowers of Aloe arborescens are umbrella-shaped, while those of aloe vera come in umbrella-shaped as well as spike-shaped and other forms.

I. Differences

1. Aloe arborescens

It is also called candelabra aloe, belongs to the Liliaceae family, has a rather short stem, fleshy leaves arranged like a rosette, the leaves are rather sharp with spines along the edges, and the flowers are umbrella-shaped as well as raceme-shaped.

It contains many kinds of nutrients, such as vitamins and minerals, as well as mucopolysaccharides, a substance with medicinal effects. It can boost people's immunity, help expel dead cells, help wounds heal, and it can also help the large intestine move.

The rhizome contains a substance that can lower blood pressure, and the calcium citrate in it can strengthen the heart. Its alcohol extract can help us inhibit tubercle bacilli, and it also contains anti-tumor substances. It tastes bitter and is cold in nature, and can clear waste from the body.

2. Aloe vera

It also belongs to the Liliaceae family and is a succulent plant with fleshy leaves, originating in Africa, generally without a stem, with leaves also arranged like a rosette. The leaves of some varieties are rather pointed and also have spines. The flowers are generally yellow or red, and both the flowers and leaves are very attractive.

Its juice can be made into skincare products and medicine. The leaves contain more than 200 substances with different functions; it can reduce inflammation, and some components can be used as a laxative and can even cause miscarriage in pregnant women, so if it is to be eaten, the outer skin must first be removed. It can relieve constipation and also ease headaches. Although it has many varieties, only a few can be eaten or used as medicine.

II. How to tell them apart

1. The one whose leaves look like claws is Aloe arborescens; its leaves have a brownish-purple membrane on the outside, the leaves are narrow and long, and the color is dark green.

2. The cross-section of an Aloe arborescens leaf is a large V shape, and there are no spots on the leaf; the leaves of aloe vera are somewhat wider than its.

3. The flowers of Aloe arborescens are generally umbrella-shaped, with 5-7 flowers, very bright red. The flowers of aloe vera have many shapes, such as umbrella-shaped, spike-shaped and so on.

Related Articles