TheNaturePlanet

As people's quality of life improves, many people focus on keeping some green plants at home. Especially, they like to have some potted plants in the room. Aloe vera and Aloe arborescens (Dragon's Claw) are types of potted plants that often appear. They look very similar, but they are two different plants. Let's distinguish them together below.
Although Aloe vera and Aloe arborescens are similar, many differences can be seen when they are placed together. Aloe arborescens, also known as Aloe arborescens var. natalensis, is a perennial plant of the Liliaceae family. In terms of appearance, its stem is very short, and its leaves feel fleshy and grow in a rosette - like manner. There are irregular hard teeth or spines at the edge of the leaves. When in full bloom, it has an umbel - shaped inflorescence. Usually, the outer three tepals are united to the middle, the stigma of the stamen is small, and the capsule contains a great number of seeds.
Aloe vera is also called a succulent plant and belongs to a genus of the Liliaceae family. It originally comes from Africa. It mostly has no stem, its leaves are fleshy and also grow in a rosette - like manner. Some leaves grow in an acute - pointed shape and have yellow or red spines. Besides being used for ornamental purposes, the juice secreted inside the leaves can be used to make cosmetics, laxatives, burn ointments, and so on.
How can we quickly distinguish between Aloe vera and Aloe arborescens? First, we can start from the shape of the leaves. The leaves of Aloe arborescens look like claws, are long and slender, have a purple - brown film on the outside, a powdery - green band on the back, are dark green overall, and are about 30 centimeters long, 3 - 4 centimeters wide, and 1 - 1.5 centimeters thick. In contrast, the leaves of Aloe vera are shorter, wider, and rounder, have obvious sharp spines at the edge of the leaves, are relatively thick overall, and the length of the leaves is between 15 and 35 centimeters.
In addition, both Aloe vera and Aloe arborescens can be eaten and have beneficial effects on the body such as relieving constipation, improving immunity, and antibacterial and anti - inflammatory effects. Aloe vera contains vitamins, minerals, and mucopolysaccharides and is generally used for skin - care treatment and wound - healing purposes. Aloe arborescens has similar medicinal properties. The components contained in its rhizome may help to lower blood pressure, strengthen heart function, and have certain anti - inflammatory and anti - tumor effects.