There are more than 400 species of aloe in China, of which 6 species are edible, and only 2 species can be eaten directly (the first species is Aloe cura? ao, which is native to Cura? ao Island in the southern Caribbean, and the other species is Aloe arborvitae, which is native to South Africa). The other four kinds need to be processed before they can be eaten (Chinese aloe, Gleditsia sinensis, Shangnong aloe and Cape aloe).
1, Aloe: Aloe of Liliaceae. The stem is short, erect and unbranched, the leaves are large and thick, the meat is juicy, narrowly lanceolate and the base is wide. This plant has two rows of leaves when it is young, and it looks like a rosette when it grows up. The leaves are 60-80 cm long and 9- 12 cm wide. Scape is 80- 100 cm high, with racemes, axillary leaves, small cylindrical flowers, narrow base and yellow flowers, which bloom in winter and spring. Leaves can be used as medicine, clearing away heat, relaxing bowels and killing insects; Indications: heat constipation, amenorrhea in women, epilepsy in children, furuncle and fever, tinea, hemorrhoids, atrophic rhinitis, and lymphoid tuberculosis.
2. Aloe arborescens: it is a perennial evergreen succulent herb of Aloe in Liliaceae, and its stems are often lignified. This plant is tree-shaped, which can grow to more than 6 meters in South Africa and 2 meters in Japan. The succulent stems around a single leaf are clustered into rosettes, and the leaves are alternate, thin and long, and the mature leaves are 40-50 cm long. Flowers bloom in winter and spring, and the flowers are orange red. Panicle, small flowers orange. Originally from South Africa, it is widely cultivated in China. Aloe arborescens likes warm, humid and sunny environment, avoids strong light, and is resistant to heat, shade and cold. The leaves can be processed and eaten, and can be made into raw powder, beverage, tea, etc. Suitable for family potted plants, can be used for balcony, window sill or living room greening.
3. Aloe Gleditsia: perennial evergreen herbs of Liliaceae and Liliaceae. Also known as aloe vera? , Chinese aloe vera, oil onion? Aloe vera, aloe vera, American aloe vera, etc. ? Leaves are clustered, large and thick, seated or born at the top of the stem. Leaves are often lanceolate or short and wide, with sharp toothed thorns on the edge. Inflorescence is umbrella-shaped, raceme-shaped, spike-shaped, cone-shaped, with red, yellow or red spots, six petals and six pistils. Perianth base is connected into a tube shape. Aloe is one of the few edible varieties of aloe, and its products are widely used in food, beauty, health care and other fields.
4. Aloe Soap has fibrous roots, no stems, clustered leaves at the base, arranged in a spiral shape, and the leaves are semi-erect or parallel. Its leaf juice is like soapy water, very greasy. There are many varieties of soapy aloe, such as broad-leaved soapy aloe, whose leaves have white stripes, clear texture and wide leaves, which have high ornamental value.
5. Aloe Vera from Shangnong: It is a cultivated variety selected from the United States by the Plant Science Genetics and Breeding Laboratory of Shanghai Agricultural College. There are white spots on the back and leaf surface of leaves at seedling stage, which disappear after plant growth. Shangnong Aloe grows fast and has great value in development and utilization. Potted plants, with weak tillering ability, unbranched main stems and slow natural reproduction. Aloe vera is confined in a narrow pot under potted conditions, and the pot soil suitable for growth should have the functions of fertilizer conservation, water retention, drainage and ventilation. The pH value should be neutral.
6. Aloe Vera of the Cape of Good Hope: Aloe Vera Cura? ao, also known as Aloe Vera of the Cape of Good Hope, is a perennial evergreen succulent plant belonging to the genus Aloe of Dryopteridaceae (also known as Lepidoptera and Helianthaceae), mainly produced in Cape and China. This is a big variety, 6 meters high, with large and hard leaves, sharp spines and no side branches, and it is propagated by seeds.
Tips:
Although the above aloe vera can be eaten, it needs to be cautious. When you meet an uncertain stranger, you'd better not eat it.