Aloe marlothii
Mountain aloe
Aloe marlothii, commonly known as the Marlotii Aloe, is a robust, succulent plant native to Southern Africa. Renowned for its thick, fleshy leaves and striking orange-to-red flowers, it is valued in traditional medicine. This resilient species is frequently utilized for its soothing, healing properties in treating various skin ailments.
- Scientific name: Aloe marlothii
- Family: Asphodelaceae
- Native range: Africa
Taxonomical Classification
This plant belongs to the kingdom Plantae and is classified under the phylum Streptophyta and the class Equisetopsida. Within the subclass Magnoliidae, it is further categorized under the order Asparagales and the family Asphodelaceae. Finally, it is placed 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 is known by several different names depending on the language and region. In Swedish, it is referred to as Taggaloe, while in Cebuano, it is commonly called Aloe spectabilis. In Arabic, its name is written as الالوه مارلوثى, and in both Chinese and Simplified Chinese, it is identified as 山芦荟.| Language | Common Name | Source |
|---|---|---|
| sv | Taggaloe | Wikidata |
| ceb | Aloe spectabilis | Wikidata |
| arz | الالوه مارلوثى | Wikidata |
| zh | 山芦荟 | Wikidata |
| zh-cn | 山芦荟 | Wikidata |
| zh-tw | 山蘆薈 | Wikidata |
| zh-hans | 山芦荟 | Wikidata |
| uk | Алое Марлота | Wikidata |
| fr | Aloès de montagne | Wikidata |
| en | Mountain aloe | Wikidata |
Distribution
This plant exhibits a diverse geographical distribution across several key regions in Africa. Within South Tropical Africa, it can be specifically found in Mozambique. Its presence extends further into Southern Africa, where it inhabits the country of Botswana. In the South African region, the species is located in both KwaZulu-Natal and the Free State. Finally, the plant is also documented as growing within Eswatini.
| Region | Area | Source |
|---|---|---|
| South Tropical Africa | Mozambique | WCVP |
| Southern Africa | Botswana | WCVP |
| Southern Africa | KwaZulu-Natal | WCVP |
| Southern Africa | Free State | WCVP |
| Southern Africa | Eswatini | WCVP |
| Southern Africa | Northern Provinces | WCVP |
Plant Parts
This plant, Aloe marlothii, is highly valued for the various therapeutic components found within its succulent structure. The whole-leaf is often utilized in traditional practices, though it is frequently processed to isolate more specific medicinal elements. Within the leaf, two distinct substances are harvested: the bitter, yellowish leaf exudate, known as aloin, which is primarily used for its potent laxative properties, and the clear, soothing gel found in the inner parenchyma, which is widely applied to treat burns, wounds, and skin irritations.- Total parts
- 3
- Scientific sources
- 3
| Plant Part | Sources | Confidence |
|---|---|---|
| whole-leaf | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| leaf exudate | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| gel | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
Chemicals
Aloe marlothii has 2 reported phytochemicals identified across 2 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported chemicals include 5-hydroxyaloin A 6'-O-acetate, 7-O-methylaloeresin A.
- Total chemicals
- 2
- Scientific sources
- 2
Most Reported Compounds
| Compound | Sources | Confidence |
|---|---|---|
| 5-hydroxyaloin A 6'-O-acetate | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| 7-O-methylaloeresin A | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
Medicinal Uses
Aloe marlothii has 3 reported medicinal uses identified across 3 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported uses include Babesia, respiratory infections, wound healing.
- Total uses
- 3
- Scientific sources
- 3
Most Reported Uses
| Use | Sources | Confidence |
|---|---|---|
| Babesia | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| respiratory infections | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| wound healing | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |