Aloe excelsa

Scientific name: Aloe excelsa

English name: Zimbabwe aloe

Shona names: Chigiakia, Chikohwa, Chiyangami, Gava, Rukwati, Godzongo

Ndebele names: Imangani, Inhlaba

Succulent plants, such as aloes, store water in their enlarged fleshy leaves, stems or roots. This allows them to survive in arid environments. There are over 500 species of aloe, with many varieties, sub-species and hybrids.

Aloe excelsa is:

• One of a few aloes indigenous to southern Africa that are considered to be trees.
• A single-stemmed small tree, on granite outcrops or on steep rocky slopes in Msasa woodland.
• At the top of the aloe excelsa stem is a rosette of large, thick, fleshy leaves. 
• During winter (July to September) orange to deep crimson flowers appear, a tube at the top of a simple or branched leafless stem.

contributed by Robin Wild