Are Dragon's Claw and Aloe the Same Species? A Detailed Explanation of Their Medicinal Differences
As people's quality of life improves, many pay attention to growing some green plants at home. They especially love to keep some potted plants in their rooms. Aloe and Dragon's Claw are a frequently seen type of potted plant; they look very similar, but they are two different plants. Let's distinguish them together below.
Although Aloe and Dragon's Claw are similar, many differences can be seen when they are placed side by side. Dragon's Claw, whose other name is Arborescens Aloe (Aloe arborescens), is a perennial plant of the Liliaceae family. In appearance, its stem is very short, its leaves feel fleshy, and it grows in a rosette-like manner, with irregular hard teeth or spines at the leaf edges. When the flowers bloom, the inflorescence is umbel-shaped; usually the outer whorl of 3 tepals is united to the middle, the stigma of the stamen is small, and the capsule contains a great many seeds.
Aloe, also called a succulent plant, belongs to a genus of the Liliaceae family and originated in Africa. It mostly has no stem system, its leaves are fleshy, and it also grows in a rosette-like manner; some leaves grow in a sharply pointed form and bear yellow or red spines. In addition, besides being ornamental, the sap secreted within its leaves can be used to make cosmetics, laxatives, burn medicines and other products.
How can Aloe and Dragon's Claw be distinguished quickly? First, you can start with the leaf shape. Dragon's Claw leaves are like claws, slender and long in shape, with a purple-brown membrane on the outside, a powdery green band on the back, and an overall dark green color; the leaves are about 30 cm long, 3-4 cm wide and 1-1.5 cm thick. By comparison, Aloe leaves are shorter, wider and rounder, with obvious sharp spines at the leaf edges, and are generally more thick and fleshy, with leaf lengths between 15-35 cm.
In addition, both Aloe and Dragon's Claw are edible plants and have beneficial effects on the body such as promoting bowel movements and relieving constipation, boosting immunity, and providing antibacterial and anti-inflammatory effects. Among them, Aloe contains vitamins, minerals and mucopolysaccharides, and is generally used for skincare and healing purposes. Dragon's Claw has similar medicinal properties; the compounds contained in its rhizome may help lower blood pressure, strengthen heart function, and have certain anti-inflammatory and anti-tumor effects.