Aloe buettneri
Encyclopedia
Aloe buettneri, is a species of succulent plant
in the genus Aloe
alongside the well known Aloe vera
plant. It is found in West Africa and is known for its medicinal uses.
. The leaves grow to about 40–80 cm long, 8–9 cm broad. The leaves are rimmed by alternating paired and solitary teeth and come together to form an underground bulb-like base making the plant appear stemless. The flower
s are arranged in a loose panicle
. The plant carries up to 12 branches with bulbs that vary in color from green-yellow, orange, or dull red.
, all Aloe
species, including Aloe buettneri, are listed by CITES, and trade in plants and plant parts is restricted. There are numerous plants present in private collections but there are no indications the species is threatened in the wild.
, Nigeria
and Togo
, however, it has been found as far as Central and Southern Africa
in countries such as Zambia
and Malawi
. It mainly grows in these warm and dry areas. Aloe buettneri growth overlaps with the growth of Aloe schweinfurthii, which is, along with Aloe buettneri, is usually referred to as Aloe barteri Baker.
the roots are used for this purpose. Rheumatism is treated with leaf ash.
, anti-ulcer and wound healing properties in rat oedema paw. The methanol extract shows in vivo activity against helminthiasis
caused by Nippostrongylus sp. in rats.
Succulent plant
Succulent plants, also known as succulents or fat plants, are water-retaining plants adapted to arid climates or soil conditions. Succulent plants store water in their leaves, stems, and also in roots...
in the genus 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"....
alongside the well known 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. It is found in West Africa and is known for its medicinal uses.
Description
Aloe buettneri is a succulent plant with thick and fleshy leaves arranged in a rosetteRosette (botany)
In botany, a rosette is a circular arrangement of leaves, with all the leaves at a single height.Though rosettes usually sit near the soil, their structure is an example of a modified stem.-Function:...
. The leaves grow to about 40–80 cm long, 8–9 cm broad. The leaves are rimmed by alternating paired and solitary teeth and come together to form an underground bulb-like base making the plant appear stemless. The flower
Flower
A flower, sometimes known as a bloom or blossom, is the reproductive structure found in flowering plants . The biological function of a flower is to effect reproduction, usually by providing a mechanism for the union of sperm with eggs...
s are arranged in a loose panicle
Panicle
A panicle is a compound raceme, a loose, much-branched indeterminate inflorescence with pedicellate flowers attached along the secondary branches; in other words, a branched cluster of flowers in which the branches are racemes....
. The plant carries up to 12 branches with bulbs that vary in color from green-yellow, orange, or dull red.
Genetics and breeding
The chromosome number of Aloe buettneri is 2n=14. Except for Aloe VeraAloe 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...
, all 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"....
species, including Aloe buettneri, are listed by CITES, and trade in plants and plant parts is restricted. There are numerous plants present in private collections but there are no indications the species is threatened in the wild.
Distribution
The natural range of Aloe buettneri is mainly West African Savannas especially SenegalSenegal
Senegal , officially the Republic of Senegal , is a country in western Africa. It owes its name to the Sénégal River that borders it to the east and north...
, Nigeria
Nigeria
Nigeria , officially the Federal Republic of Nigeria, is a federal constitutional republic comprising 36 states and its Federal Capital Territory, Abuja. The country is located in West Africa and shares land borders with the Republic of Benin in the west, Chad and Cameroon in the east, and Niger in...
and Togo
Togo
Togo, officially the Togolese Republic , is a country in West Africa bordered by Ghana to the west, Benin to the east and Burkina Faso to the north. It extends south to the Gulf of Guinea, on which the capital Lomé is located. Togo covers an area of approximately with a population of approximately...
, however, it has been found as far as Central and Southern Africa
Africa
Africa is the world's second largest and second most populous continent, after Asia. At about 30.2 million km² including adjacent islands, it covers 6% of the Earth's total surface area and 20.4% of the total land area...
in countries such as Zambia
Zambia
Zambia , officially the Republic of Zambia, is a landlocked country in Southern Africa. The neighbouring countries are the Democratic Republic of the Congo to the north, Tanzania to the north-east, Malawi to the east, Mozambique, Zimbabwe, Botswana and Namibia to the south, and Angola to the west....
and 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...
. It mainly grows in these warm and dry areas. Aloe buettneri growth overlaps with the growth of Aloe schweinfurthii, which is, along with Aloe buettneri, is usually referred to as Aloe barteri Baker.
Medicinal
The leaves of Aloe buettneri can be applied externally and are believed to help skin conditions such as burns, wounds, insect bites, Guinea worm sores and vitiligo. In Burkina Faso the dried powdered leaves are taken to treat malaria, while in Côte d’Ivoire and TogoTogo
Togo, officially the Togolese Republic , is a country in West Africa bordered by Ghana to the west, Benin to the east and Burkina Faso to the north. It extends south to the Gulf of Guinea, on which the capital Lomé is located. Togo covers an area of approximately with a population of approximately...
the roots are used for this purpose. Rheumatism is treated with leaf ash.
Properties and research
The hydro-alcohol extract of Aloe buettneri A. Berger has anti-inflammatoryAnti-inflammatory
Anti-inflammatory refers to the property of a substance or treatment that reduces inflammation. Anti-inflammatory drugs make up about half of analgesics, remedying pain by reducing inflammation as opposed to opioids, which affect the central nervous system....
, anti-ulcer and wound healing properties in rat oedema paw. The methanol extract shows in vivo activity against helminthiasis
Helminthiasis
Helminthiasis is a macroparasitic disease of humans and animals in which a part of the body is infested with parasitic worms such as pinworm, roundworm, or tapeworm...
caused by Nippostrongylus sp. in rats.
See also
- AloeAloeAloe , 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"....
- AsphodelaceaeAsphodelaceaeAsphodeloideae is a subfamily of the monocot family Xanthorrhoeaceae in the order Asparagales. It has previously been treated as a separate family, Asphodelaceae. The subfamily name is derived from the generic name of the type genus, Asphodelus...
- Herbal medicine
- Succulent plants
- Medicinal plants