Aloe castanea

Cat's-tail aloe

Aloe castanea, commonly known as chestnut aloe, is a distinctive succulent native to specific subtropical regions. Characterized by its unique, robust foliage, this medicinal plant is prized in traditional herbalism. It is frequently utilized for its soothing properties, offering therapeutic benefits for skin ailments and promoting overall topical healing.

  • Scientific name: Aloe castanea
  • Family: Asphodelaceae
  • Native range: Africa

Taxonomical Classification

This plant, known as Aloe castanea, belongs to the kingdom Plantae and the phylum Streptophyta. It is further classified within the class Equisetopsida and the subclass Magnoliidae, falling under the order Asparagales. Finally, it is a member of the family Asphodelaceae within the genus Aloe.

Rank Classification Source
Kingdom Plantae WCVP
Phylum Streptophyta WCVP
Class Equisetopsida WCVP
Subclass Magnoliidae WCVP
Order Asparagales WCVP
Family Asphodelaceae WCVP
Genus Aloe WCVP

Common Names

This plant, known scientifically as Aloe castanea, is recognized by various common names depending on the language and region. In English, it is referred to as the Cat's-tail Aloe, while in Afrikaans, it is called Katstertaalwyn, and in Chinese, its name is 栗褐芦荟.
Language Common Name Source
af Katstertaalwyn Wikidata
en Cat's-tail Aloe Wikidata
zh 栗褐芦荟 Wikidata

Distribution

This plant has a very specific and limited geographical range within the African continent. It is primarily found in the southern region of Africa, where it thrives in particular ecological niches. Specifically, its population can be located within the borders of Eswatini. Additionally, the species is distributed across the Northern Provinces of South Africa. These two distinct areas represent the known natural habitats for this medicinal species.

Region Area Source
Southern Africa Eswatini WCVP
Southern Africa Northern Provinces WCVP

Chemicals

Aloe castanea has 2 reported phytochemicals identified across 2 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported chemicals include 6'-O-Coumaroylaloesin, 6'-O-coumaroylaloesin.

Total chemicals
2
Scientific sources
2

Most Reported Compounds

Compound Sources Confidence
6'-O-Coumaroylaloesin 1 ★☆☆☆☆
6'-O-coumaroylaloesin 1 ★☆☆☆☆