Biology:Aloe cooperi

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Short description: Species of succulent

Aloe cooperi
Aloe cooperi in flower IMG 1702e.JPG
Scientific classification edit
Kingdom: Plantae
Clade: Tracheophytes
Clade: Angiosperms
Clade: Monocots
Order: Asparagales
Family: Asphodelaceae
Subfamily: Asphodeloideae
Genus: Aloe
Species:
A. cooperi
Binomial name
Aloe cooperi
Baker[1][2]
Synonyms

Aloe schmidtiana Regel

Aloe cooperi, also known as Cooper's aloe[3] and as iPutumane in Zulu, is a succulent species that is endemic to Southern Africa. It has significant cultural and economic value to the Zulu people of South Africa .

Distribution

This plant can be found along the southern warm coastal parts of Kwazulu-Natal and north up to the colder mountainous regions of Eswatini and Mpumalanga.[4]

Uses

  • Young shoots and flowers are often cooked and eaten as vegetables by the Zulu people, they also believe that smoke from burning leaves in the cattle kraal will prevent the effects on cattle of eating improper food.[5]
  • The plant's juice has been fed to horses to rid them of ticks.[6]
  • The plant attracts nectar feeding birds, this made it a popular garden plant in South Africa.[7]

References

Wikidata ☰ Q1454768 entry