Common Name:

General Information

Aloe percrassa is an evergreen, succulent, perennial plant forming a rosette of leaves that can each be up to 75cm long and 15cm wide at the base. The plant suckers from the base to form small groups. Stemless when young, older plants can develop thick, erect or decumbent stems up to 80cm long[, ].
The plant is harvested from the wild for use as a dye.
This species has a fairly large range of over 30,000 km², but its population has declined in the past. It has become harder to find in the field and it is likely that the species has been lost from some localities. The main threat to the species is habitat degradation as a result of human activities, and the wild population is likely to continue declining in the future. It is impossible to determine the extent of the population reduction, but the plant is probably close to qualifying as threatened. It is currently classified as 'Near Threatened' 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

East tropical Africa - Eritrea, Ethiopia.

Habitat

Sparsely vegetated rocky slopes and outcrops at elevations from 2,100 - 2,700 metres[].

Properties

Conservation Status	Near Threatened
Other Uses Rating
Habit	Evergreen Perennial
Height	0.60 m
Cultivation Status	Wild

Cultivation Details

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

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[].

Other Uses

A red dye is obtained from the plant (part not specified)[].

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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