Aloe ferox Mill.

Stem simple, usually 2-3 met. high, sometimes 4-5 met., densely covered with the persistent remains of old dry leaves. Leaves 50-60 in a dense capitate rosette, lanceolate-ensiform, up to 1 met. long, 15 cm broad at base, rather fleshy, dull green, sometimes with a reddish tinge; upper surface flat low down, slightly canaliculate upwards, varying from smooth to spiny, the spines few to many, irregularly scattered; lower surface convex, varying from smooth (except for a few spines in median line near apex), to copiously spiny throughout; margins sinuate-dentate, armed with stout deltoid reddish to brownish-red teeth about 6 mm long, 10-20 mm distant, the interspaces rounded. Inflorescence one only, a branched panicle with 5-8 erect racemes. Racemes erect, mostly unicoloured reddish, sometimes orange, cylindric slightly acuminate, very densely multi-flowered, 50-80 cm, long, 9-12 cm diam. at base, about 6 cm diam. at apex, the buds horizontally disposed and slightly laxer than the open flowers, the flowers first opening up the side (north) facing the sun. Pedicels green, 4-5 mm long. Bracts ovate-acute, 8-10 mm long, 3-5 mm broad, thin scarious brownish, 3-5-nerved. Perianth scarlet, sometimes orange, clavate-cylindric, slightly ventricose, averaging 33 mm, in length; outer segments free for about two-thirds their length, obscurely 3-5-nerved, the nerves reddish-orange, the apices sub-acute, spreading; inner segments free, but dorsally adnate to the outer for one-third their length, with thin whitish margins, carinate with 3 congested nerves, the middle nerve usually more raised than the other two and the colour of the perianth, turning green at apex, the apices spreading to revolute, light to deep brown tipped. Filaments flattened, the 3 inner narrower and lengthening in advance of the 3 outer, the included part lemon the exserted part (20 mm) orange to brownish-orange, eventually turning deep brown to black. Anthers the 3 inner and 3 outer in turn exserted 20-25 mm Stigma exserted 20-25 mm, with the exserted portion of the style slightly lighter in colour than the filaments. Ovary 6-7 mm long, 4 mm diam., finely 6-grooved, green. Flowering period ranges from May and June along the warmer coastal belt, July and August further inland (Cradock, Queenstown), September and October near Tarkastad, and as late as November along the Orange River from Aliwal North to Southern Basutoland.

It occurs in hills and open spaces. It grows in areas with a rainfall of 200 mm to 750 mm. The temperatures vary between 46°C and-5°C. It can grow in arid places. In Brisbane Botanical Gardens. It suits hardiness zones 9-11.

CAUTION: The nectar when drunk in large quantities can cause paralysis. The nectar is sweet and edible. The fleshy part of the leaves with the skin stripped off is used for jam. It is also used to make drinks.

It is grown from offsets near the base of the plant. It can be grown from seeds.