Aloe arborescens, commonly known as the Krantz Aloe, belongs to the Aloe

Aloe

Aloe , also Aloë, is a genus containing about 500 species of flowering succulent plants. The most common and well known of these is Aloe vera, or "true aloe"....

 genus, which it shares with the well known and studied Aloe vera

Aloe vera

Aloe vera, pronounced , also known as the true aloe or medicinal aloe, is a species of succulent plant in the genus Aloe that is believed to have originated in the Sudan. Aloe vera grows in arid climates and is widely distributed in Africa, India, Nepal and other arid areas.The species is...

 plant. This species is also relatively popular among gardeners and has recently been studied for possible medical uses. It is the only other member of the Aloe family that is claimed to be as effective as Aloe vera

Aloe vera

Aloe vera, pronounced , also known as the true aloe or medicinal aloe, is a species of succulent plant in the genus Aloe that is believed to have originated in the Sudan. Aloe vera grows in arid climates and is widely distributed in Africa, India, Nepal and other arid areas.The species is...

for medical uses.

Description

The Aloe arborescens is a large treelike multi-headed shrub and bears its name due to its stem forming habit. Typical height for this species 2 – high. Its leaves are succulent and are green with a slight blue tint. Its leaves are armed with small spikes along its edges and are arranged in rosettes situated at the end of branches. Flowers are arranged in a type of inflorescence called a raceme. The racemes are not branched but two to several can sprout from each rosette. Flowers are cylindrical in shape and are a vibrant red/orange color.

Distribution

Aloe arborescens is mostly native to the south eastern coast of the African continent. Specifically, this range includes the countries of South Africa

South Africa

The Republic of South Africa is a country in southern Africa. Located at the southern tip of Africa, it is divided into nine provinces, with of coastline on the Atlantic and Indian oceans...

, Malawi

Malawi

The Republic of Malawi is a landlocked country in southeast Africa that was formerly known as Nyasaland. It is bordered by Zambia to the northwest, Tanzania to the northeast, and Mozambique on the east, south and west. The country is separated from Tanzania and Mozambique by Lake Malawi. Its size...

, Mozambique

Mozambique

Mozambique, officially the Republic of Mozambique , is a country in southeastern Africa bordered by the Indian Ocean to the east, Tanzania to the north, Malawi and Zambia to the northwest, Zimbabwe to the west and Swaziland and South Africa to the southwest...

 and Zimbabwe

Zimbabwe

Zimbabwe is a landlocked country located in the southern part of the African continent, between the Zambezi and Limpopo rivers. It is bordered by South Africa to the south, Botswana to the southwest, Zambia and a tip of Namibia to the northwest and Mozambique to the east. Zimbabwe has three...

. It has the third largest distribution amongst the aloe genus.
Although Aloe arborescens has adapted to many different habitats, its natural habitat usually consists of mountainous areas including rocky outcrops and exposed ridges. Its common name Krantz Aloe refers to the Afrikaans word "krantz", which means a rocky cliff. Its habitat can vary and is one of only a few species of aloe that is found growing from sea level up to the tops of mountains.

Medicinal uses

Aloe arborescens shares similar medicinal properties with the well known Aloe vera and is commonly used to treat burn wounds. In a scientific study conducted by Jia et al., wounds were induced in rat and rabbit test subjects and pulp from Aloe arborescens was applied to the wounds. Results showed that healing rates were improved in wounds addressed with Aloe arborescens. According to the study, applications of the Aloe arborescens extract “tended to significantly reduce the wound severity with respect to that with saline treatment”. In addition to increased healing properties, the study found that Aloe arborescens can be used to reduce microbial growth. The study found that the application had “effectively inhibited the bacterial growth for four bacteria during the observation period of time”.

Preliminary results show that A. arborescens may be useful in the treatment of cancer as it contains compounds that inhibit cell proliferation. Recent research in cancer treatment with A. arborescens in a clinical trial involving 240 patients led to the conclusion that aloe may enhance the effects of chemotherapy by increasing its efficacy in terms of both tumor regression rate and survival time.

Gardening

The Aloe arborescens is a popular plant among gardeners because of its beauty. These plants are known for their succulent green leaves and large vibrantly colored flowers. Its flowers bloom during the winter and is chosen among gardeners to add color to their gardens during the winter season when few other flowers bloom. In addition to their beauty, this species also produces a sweet nectar that attracts birds, butterflies and bees.

In Southern Africa, Aloe arborescens is traditionally planted around kraal

Kraal

Kraal is an Afrikaans and Dutch word for an enclosure for cattle or other livestock, located within an African settlement or village surrounded by a palisade, mud wall, or other fencing, roughly circular in form.In the Dutch language a kraal is a term derived from the Portuguese word , cognate...

s (domestic stock enclosures) as a living fence or security hedge. It often happens that the position of old kraals can still be seen many years after they have been abandoned, because the aloes persist.

This aloe is easily propagated by cuttings.