Common Name:

General Information

Aloe wollastonii is a stemless, evergreen, succulent, perennial plant producing a dense rosette of 12 - 15, spear-shaped leaves that can be up to 50cm long and 10cm wide at their base. The plant does not normally sucker, producing just the one rosette and growing up to 150cm tall[].
The plant is harvested from the wild for local use as a medicine.

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

East tropical Africa - Uganda, Kenya, eastern DR Congo, Rwanda, Burundi, Tanzania.

Habitat

Grassland and woodland at elevations from 1,100 - 2,300 metres[].

Properties

Medicinal Rating
Habit	Evergreen Perennial
Height	1.00 m
Cultivation Status	Wild

Cultivation Details

The plant produces few or no suckers, and so is not an obvious choice for commercial cultivation[].
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

None known

Medicinal

Uterine inflammation is treated by drinking an infusion of the leaves[].
The exudate, crushed leaves and dried leaves are applied topically to cure haemorrhoids. In Uganda itchy skin rash is treated by bathing in an infusion of Aloe wollastonii leaves or by using the crushed leaves as a sponge[].

A decoction of roots and leaves is drunk to cure jaundice[].

Aloe species contain a variety of phenolic compounds, including chromone, anthraquinone or anthrone derivatives. The leaf exudate of Aloe wollastonii contains about 15% aloin[].

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[].

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