kumari :

Morphology:

Leaves

Aloe vera leaves are lance-shaped with serrated edges.

The leaves are:

Fleshy thick

Green or grey-greenish

Waxy coated on the surface

Equity succulent, meaning they can keep their shape due to the moist

The leaves has spiky type margins.

The leaves contain water (the gel) and are flot on the top side, and rounded at the bottom side.

These leaves can grow up to 18 inches long and 2 inches wide. These are of green to grey green colour.

In young leaves of Aloe vera spots are pale green to white. When the Aloe vera grows up, the spots disappear. However, some species will not loose their spots, which is due to genetic factors.

The leaves of the plant consists of three layers, inner layer has 99% water and other 1% is filled with biochemical. Middle layer is formed of latex, have yellow colour sap in it. Last is the outer layer, a thick layer made of 15 to 20 cells, protects the whole plant.

Flowering

The Aloe vera flowers are trumpet-shaped or tube shaped of about 2-3 cm long. The color of the flower is yellow to orange and the flowers are hanging down, as is visible in figure 4. The flowers are hanging down at the end of the shaft, but the more you go up, the less they are hanging.

Roots

Aloe vera has a fibrous root system. The root system of Aloe vera is short with root fibres that can reach 30-40 cm.

Fruits

The plant fruits are of triangular shape and containing plenty of seeds in it.

Histology:

Aloe vera plant anatomy

The plant has triangular, fleshy leaves with serrated edges, yellow tubular flowers and fruits that contain numerous seeds. Each leaf is composed of three layers:

1. An inner clear gel that contains 99% water and rest is made of glucomannas, amino acids, lipids, steroids and vitamins.

2. The middle layer of latex which is the bitter yellow sap and contains anthraquinones and glycosides.

3. The outer thick layer of 15 -20 cells called as rind which has protective function and synthesizes carbohydrates and proteins.

Inside the rind are vascular bundles responsible for transportation of substance such as water (xylem) and starch (phloem)

1. Rind - the outer protective layer.

2. Sap - a layer of bitter fluid which helps protect the plant from animals.

3. Mucilage Gel - the inner part of the leaf that is filleted out to make Aloe vera Gel.

4. Aloe vera (inner gel) contains the 8 essential amino acids that the human body needs but cannot manufacture.We believe you will come to realize (as we have) that Aloe vera is great for your body-both internally and externally.

Aloe vera has some fantastic natural healing benefits which is why it has earned the title "miracle plant".