Aloe vera (L.) Burm.f. is a stemless or very short-stemmed plant. Its leaves are thick and fleshy, green to grey-green, with some varieties showing white flecks on their upper and lower stem surfaces. The margin of the leaf is serrated and has small white teeth. The flowers are produced in summer on a spike, each flower being pendulous, with a yellow tubular corolla. Like other Aloe species, Aloe vera forms arbuscular mycorrhiza, a symbiosis that allows the plant better access to mineral nutrients in soil.
It is used in many consumer products, including beverages, skin lotion, cosmetics, ointments or in the form of gel for minor burns and sunburns. There is, however, little clinical evidence for the effectiveness or safety of Aloe vera extract as a cosmetic or topical drug.
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The botanical name derives from Latin, aloe (also from Greek), having uncertain origin, and vera ("true") from Latin.
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Aloe vera
Aloe vera comes in following sizes:
M - is ca. 25 cm tall and comes in a ⌀ 12 cm pot.
L - is ca. 50 cm tall and comes in a ⌀ 17 cm pot.
