Common Name:

General Information

Aloe macrocarpa is an almost thornless, succulent, evergreen, perennial plant. It forms a rosette of fleshy leaves up to 40cm long and 10cm wide, with toothed margins[, ].
The plant is harvested from the wild for its flowers, which are eaten locally. It is sometimes also cultivated for its flowers and for soil stabilization[, ].
The plant is classified as 'Least Concern' in the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species(2013)[].

Known Hazards

The sap of Aloe species contains anthraquinones. These compounds have several beneficial medicinal actions, particularly as a laxative, and many species of Aloe are thus employed in traditional medicine. Whilst safe in small doses and for short periods of time, anthraquinones do have potential problems if used in excess. These include congestion and irritation of the pelvic organs[]. Long term use of anthraquinone laxatives may also play a role in development of colorectal cancer as they have genotoxic potential, and tumorigenic potential[].

Botanical References

Range

Tropical Africa - Mali to Eritrea.

Habitat

Open grassland, often between clumps of evergreen bushes, on rocky slopes to level areas with darker soil; usually at elevations from 500 - 2,200 metres, occasionally to 3,000 metres[].

Properties

Conservation Status	Least Concern
Edibility Rating
Medicinal Rating
Other Uses Rating
Habit	Evergreen Perennial
Height	0.50 m
Cultivation Status	Cultivated, Wild

Cultivation Details

Succeeds in light shade[]. Established plants are drought tolerant[].
Aloe species follow the Crassulacean acid metabolism (CAM). CAM plants can fix carbon dioxide at night and photosynthesize with closed stomata during the day, thus minimizing water loss. This, plus their succulent leaves and stems, and the presence of a thick cuticle, makes them well adapted to dry conditions[].

Edible Uses

Flowers[].

Medicinal

The leaf exudate is used medicinally[].

The distinctive constituents in Aloe leaves are phenolic compounds, including chromone, anthraquinone or anthrone derivatives. Some of the compounds are found in many species, whereas others occur in only a few[].

Agroforestry Uses:

The plant is grown along soil contours to prevent erosion[].

Other Uses

None known

Propagation

Seed - we have no specific information on this species - in general Aloes are sown in a sandy, well-drained potting soil in a warm, shady position in standard seed trays. Germination takes about three weeks. Cover the seed with a thin layer of sand (1 - 2mm), keep moist. The seedlings can be planted out in individual bags or containers as soon as they are large enough to handle[].
Suckers

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