Aloidendron dichotomum (Masson) Klopper & Gideon F.Sm. (Aloe dichotoma before reclassification in 2013) forms an extremely tough tree with densely rounded crown as a result of the repeatedly forked branches.It may reach an age of over 80 years and a height of approximately 7(-9) metres with up to 1 m of diameter at ground level. The stem is smooth, covered with a thin layer of whitish powder that helps to reflect away the hot sun's rays. Typically, the trunk tapers from a thick base towards the top and begins to branch and re-branch dichothocomously at about half way up the trunk, earning the plant its specific epithet for this dichotomous pattern. The bark on the trunk is rather hard and forms beautiful golden brown scales, but beware, the edges of these scales are razor sharp. The pith is soft, light and spongy.; Leaves are bout 30cm long and 5 cm wide, blue-green, fleshy, bearing a narrow brownish-yellow margins margin of thorns. Leaves are arranged in a spiralled terminal rosette in old plants, but in juvenile plants they are ranked in vertical rows. These rosettes at the tips of the forked branches usually form a dense, rounded crown. In this species the old dry leaves drop off so that the leafy rosettes only remain at the tips of the branches, leaving the rest of their length clean. 
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Etymology: specific epithet from the Greek dikhotomia, meaning 'a cutting in two'.
The genus name Aloidendron is a combination of Aloe and dendron - the latter referring to their tree like habit. Aloe is derived from the Arabic, `Alloch' and translated as `Allal' in Greek and Hebrew, literally meaning bitter or bitter sap, referring to aloe sap.
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