Chabauds Aloe

Names and Synonyms

Common Names

• Chabauds Aloe
• Dwala Aloe

Scientific Names

Accepted name

Sources: Wikidata, Catalogue of Life

Taxonomical Classification

This plant belongs to the kingdom Plantae and the phylum Streptophyta, falling under the class Equisetopsida and subclass Magnoliidae. Within the order Asparagales, it is classified under the family Asphodelaceae. Finally, it is categorized within the genus Aloe.

Sources: The World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP)

Distribution

This plant exhibits a widespread distribution across several key regions of the African continent. In West-Central Tropical Africa, it can be found within the Democratic Republic of the Congo. Moving to East Tropical Africa, its presence is noted in Tanzania. The species also extends into South Tropical Africa, specifically inhabiting the nation of Malawi. Furthermore, its range in South Tropical Africa includes the countries of Mozambique and Zambia.

Sources: The World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP)

Botanical Identification

Ecology

The ecology of Aloe chabaudii is characterized by its ability to inhabit a diverse range of altitudinal gradients, spanning from low-lying coastal or lowland areas to significant montane elevations. Specifically, this species thrives across an elevational range that begins at a minimum of 15 m AMSL and extends up to a maximum of 1675 m AMSL. This broad vertical distribution suggests a high degree of ecological plasticity, allowing the plant to adapt to varying climatic conditions, temperature fluctuations, and moisture regimes found between sea level and high-altitude environments.

Elevational range max:

1675 m AMSL

Elevational range min:

15 m AMSL

Life history

The life history of Aloe chabaudii is characterized by its status as a perennial plant, allowing it to persist through multiple growing seasons. Functioning as a hemicryptophyte, its perennially active buds are located at or near the soil surface, protected by residual leaf bases or organic matter. This species maintains an evergreen habit, ensuring that its photosynthetic tissues remain functional and present throughout the year without undergoing a seasonal shedding of leaves.

Deciduousness :

evergreen

Life form :

hemicryptophyte

Lifecycle :

perennial

Morphology

The morphology of Aloe chabaudii is characterized by a non-woody, herbaceous growth form, functioning as both a herb and a forb. This species is primarily terrestrial in its ecological niche, lacking aquatic or epiphytic tendencies, and it operates as an independent organism rather than a parasite. Structurally, the plant is self-supporting and does not exhibit climbing habits. In terms of physical stature, it maintains a relatively low profile, with a plant height ranging from a minimum of 0.3 m to a maximum of 0.64 m.

Aquatic :

terrestrial

Climber :

self-supporting

Epiphyte :

terrestrial

Growth form :

herb

Parasite :

independent

Plant height max:

0.64 m

Plant height min:

0.3 m

Woodiness :

non-woody

Physiology

The physiology of Aloe chabaudii is characterized by its specialized succulent metabolism, designed to facilitate survival in arid environments through highly efficient water conservation and nutrient management. As a member of the Asphodelaceae family, its metabolic processes are governed by Crassulacean Acid Metabolism (CAM), which allows the plant to sequester carbon dioxide at night to minimize transpirational water loss during the heat of the day. The internal physiological structure features large parenchyma cells dedicated to storing mucilaginous polysaccharides and water, which maintain turgor pressure and metabolic stability during prolonged drought. Regarding its nutrient acquisition strategies, the plant does not engage in symbiotic biological nitrogen fixation; it is not a nitrogen fixer, meaning it relies entirely on the uptake of available nitrogenous compounds from the soil through its root system rather than converting atmospheric nitrogen. This reliance on soil-based nitrogen uptake is integrated into its slow-growth physiological profile, where nutrient assimilation is closely synchronized with seasonal moisture availability to optimize resource allocation between leaf development and reproductive efforts.

Nitrogen fixer :

no

Reproduction

Reproduction in Aloe chabaudii is facilitated through the production of specialized seeds that play a critical role in its life cycle. These seeds are characterized by an extremely lightweight and consistent physical profile, exhibiting a uniform seed mass across observed samples. The data indicates that the seed mass is remarkably stable, with a mean value of 0.00183 g, a maximum value of 0.00183 g, and a minimum value of 0.00183 g. This lack of variance in mass suggests a highly standardized reproductive output, where each seed is produced with precise physiological dimensions to optimize dispersal and germination potential within its natural habitat.

Seed mass mean:

0.00183 g

Sources: Global Inventory of Floras and Traits (GIFT)

Plant Parts

Aloe chabaudii has 2 reported plant parts identified across 2 scientific publications and several other databases that are studied for medicinal purposes. The most consistently reported plant part include leaf, root.

Leaf

1. Methods and findings in experimental and clinical pharmacology

Root

1. Journal of ethnopharmacology

Activities

Aloe chabaudii has 1 reported activities identified across 2 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported activities include Abortifacient.

Abortifacient

1. The Central African journal of medicine

Conditions

Aloe chabaudii has 1 reported investigations on conditions identified across 2 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported conditions include diarrhea.

Diarrhea

1. Methods and findings in experimental and clinical pharmacology