Rainforest Biome
Explore our enormous indoor rainforest. Trek through the humid tropics via SE Asia, West Africa and South America.
Aloe
Gel from the leaves of this plant is thought to have healing properties and is used in cosmetics, herbal remedies and food supplements. It grows in the South Africa Exhibit in our Mediterranean Biome.
Botanical description
Explore the plant
1
The leaves are arranged in rosettes.
2
The 'fierce' spikes give the plant its scientific name.
3
Gel is extracted from the leaves and used medicinally.
4
The flowering structure comprises many individual flowers.
5
Individual flowers on the flowering structure.
Facts
Where it grows
Native to the South African provinces of Western Cape, Eastern Cape and Kwazulu-Natal. It grows on rocky hills, grassy fynbos and on the edges of the Karoo National Parks. Fynbos is Afrikaans for ‘fine bush’, which refers to the evergreen, fire-prone shrubs that live in the nutrient poor soil. This area of South Africa has one of the greatest varieties of plants on Earth and is botanically richer than the rainforest.
Glossary
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