Aloe lateritia

Names and Synonyms

Scientific Names

Accepted name

Distribution

This plant, Aloe lateritia, exhibits a specific geographical distribution across several regions of the African continent. In Northeast Tropical Africa, its presence is documented within the borders of Ethiopia. Moving toward East Tropical Africa, the species can be found growing in both Kenya and Tanzania. Furthermore, its range extends into South Tropical Africa, specifically within Malawi. Together, these locations define the natural habitat where this medicinal succulent thrives.

Sources: The World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP)

Botanical Identification

Life history

The life history of Aloe lateritia is characterized by its status as a perennial plant, allowing it to persist through multiple growing seasons. As a hemicryptophyte, its perennating buds are located at the soil surface or just below it, a structural adaptation that supports its survival across various environmental conditions. Furthermore, the plant maintains an evergreen habit, ensuring that its foliage remains functional and photosynthetic throughout the year without undergoing a deciduous period.

Deciduousness :

evergreen

Life form :

hemicryptophyte

Lifecycle :

perennial

Morphology

Morphologically, Aloe lateritia is characterized as a non-woody herb that exhibits a self-supporting growth habit. It typically reaches a mean plant height of approximately 0.5 m. As an independent organism, it does not function as a parasite, nor does it exhibit epiphytic behavior, instead maintaining a terrestrial life form. Its structure is classified consistently under the growth form of a herb, lacking any woody development.

Climber :

self-supporting

Epiphyte :

terrestrial

Growth form :

herb

Parasite :

independent

Plant height mean:

0.5 m

Woodiness :

non-woody

Physiology

The physiology of Aloe lateritia is characterized by a specialized Crassulacean Acid Metabolism (CAM) pathway, which allows the plant to optimize water-use efficiency by fixing carbon dioxide at night to minimize transpirational loss during the heat of the day. This metabolic adaptation involves the nocturnal accumulation of malic acid within large vacuoles, which is subsequently decarboxylated during daylight hours for photosynthesis. The plant's succulent leaves serve as primary reservoirs for water and secondary metabolites, such as polysaccharides and anthraquinones, which facilitate osmotic regulation and defense mechanisms. Regarding its nutrient cycling capabilities, Aloe lateritia is not a nitrogen fixer; it lacks the symbiotic relationship with diazotrophic bacteria typically found in the root nodules of certain legumes, meaning it relies on the uptake of available nitrates and ammonium from the surrounding soil substrate rather than atmospheric nitrogen conversion.

Nitrogen fixer :

no

Reproduction

The reproduction of Aloe lateritia is characterized by specific seed morphology and specialized dispersal mechanisms. The seeds produced by this species are remarkably consistent in size, with a minimum mass of 0.00153 g, a maximum mass of 0.00174 g, and an average seed mass of approximately 0.001635 g. Regarding its dispersal strategy, the plant primarily utilizes an autochorous syndrome, meaning it relies on mechanisms for self-dispersal to spread its seeds away from the parent plant. This reproductive strategy ensures the propagation of the species through its own inherent physiological processes.

Dispersal syndrome :

autochorous

Seed mass max:

0.00174 g

Seed mass mean:

0.001635 g

Seed mass min:

0.00153 g

Sources: Global Inventory of Floras and Traits (GIFT)

Plant Parts

Aloe lateritia 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. Journal of intercultural ethnopharmacology

Root

1. Journal of intercultural ethnopharmacology

Conditions

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

Fungal infections

1. Journal of intercultural ethnopharmacology

Preparations

Aloe lateritia has 1 reported preparations identified across 2 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported preparations include boiling plant parts especially the leaves and roots.

Boiling plant parts especially the leaves and roots

1. Journal of intercultural ethnopharmacology