Common Name:

General Information

Aloe zebrina is a spiny, evergreen, succulent plant forming a compact rosette of spreading leaves; it grows 15 - 30cm tall. It is usually stemless, but can have a short stem. The plant often suckers freely to form large, dense groups[, ].
The plant is sometimes harvested from the wild for local use as a medicine and source of edible flowers and dyestuff. Like many other Aloe species, this plant has ornamental value and potential for cultivation in arid to semi-arid, frost-free locations[].
Some Aloe spp. Are extracted from wild sources for their various uses, but this is not thought to be a major threat to this species at present. Sustainable wild harvesting or cultivation protocols should be investigated. 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

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Range

Southern tropical Africa - Angola, Namibia, Zambia, Malawi, Mozambique, Botswana, Zimbabwe.

Habitat

Grassland and open Brachystegia and mopane woodland at elevations from 200 - 1,600 metres[]. Dry thickets and marshy meadows on river banks[].

Properties

Conservation Status	Least Concern
Edibility Rating
Medicinal Rating
Other Uses Rating
Habit	Evergreen Perennial
Height	0.25 m
Cultivation Status	Ornamental, Wild

Cultivation Details

Temperatures are usually high in the summer but may, in parts of its range, become very low in winter[]. The plant can probably tolerate light frosts[]. Rainfall in the distribution area of this species is high in the extreme northwest, but low elsewhere, with a summer maximum throughout[].
Prefers a position in full sun, but can tolerate light shade[].
The plants sucker freely and can form dense groups, although differences exist between populations. The roots can easily be collected on a sustainable basis because plants easily form new roots, provided they are left to grow again[].
For dyeing Hyphaene palm fibres, the roots are collected from the wild, preferably on a small scale, and boiled with the weaving material until a golden-yellow colour is obtained[]. In Ethiopia, the leaves of Aloe sp. (‘sete ret’) are chopped and boiled in water with white cloth until it is dyed red[].
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 and flower buds - raw or cooked[, , ]. They can be boiled, pressed and made into cakes[]. The flowers can be cooked lightly, the moisture squeezed out of them, and then dried in the sun to a stiff paste - this stores for quite some time and bits can simply be broken off and added to other dishes as required[].

The sweet nectar is eaten[].

The juicy leaves are used as a masticatory[].

Medicinal

The pulpy gel-like makerial in the leaves is taken internally to treat stomach problems[]. The (bitter) juice of this and many other Aloe species is used as a powerful purgative and worm expellant, as a disinfectant for wounds, and to treat skin problems including conjunctivitis[].
Applied externally, the gel is used to treatburns, skin ailments and eye ailments[].

A decoction of the powdered stem and leaf bases is taken orally twice a day by women after delivery to cleanse the system[].

The yellow leaf sap of most Aloe species contains anthrone C-glycosides such as aloin and homonataloin, and the yellow root sap anthranoid aglycones such as chrysophanol (a fast orange-brown colorant) and asphodeline[].
The roots of this species also contain aloesaponarin, aloesaponol and related compounds of the 1-methyl-8-hydroxyanthraquinone pathway[].
Isoleutherol is a unique chemical compound found in the roots of this and other species of spotted aloes[].

Other Uses

The roots are one of the main dyes for the Hyphaene palm fibres used in basketry weaving in southern Africa, giving a golden-yellow colour to the fibres. They have also been adopted for wool dyeing by Europeans, who introduced the use of metallic mordants such as alum to obtain more intense, fast colours[].

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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