Flat Aloe Vera vs. a Swirled Leaf Arrangement?
by Lydia Cuff
(Mehama, Oregon, U.S.A.)
from above, leaves seem flat instead of swirled - is this a different kind of aloe?
close up of the leaves on Lydia's aloe plant, and the pups or offsets
side view of the Lydia's aloe vera plants
I have some aloe plants that I can't totally identify. They are green with white spots and little spikes on the edges of the leaves, but unlike all the aloe vera plants I've seen, the leaves don't seem to grow in all directions.
Instead, they seem to grow more 2-dimensionaly, but don't look to me like aloe plicatilis (fan aloe) either.
Can anyone identify these for me? Is it some sort of weird hybrid?
Can the gel be used on burns? Is this variety edible?
Hi Lydia.
I do hope others will comment as well. They may know far more than I do. But your plants look just like my aloe vera plants.
I've found that as the plants grow larger, they do begin to do more of a swirled arrangement of their leaves. But when mine are your size (as most are right now) they do the same thing.
Another point I've noticed is that if I turn the pots when I water them, so the other sides of the plant are facing the sun source, then the leaves tend to turn toward the sun. The more carefully I pay attention to the turns of the pot (something i often forget to do) the more rounded and balanced the plant looks.
I do wish someone with more sure knowledge would step up and tell us how this works. (hint-hint!)
Blessings & Thanks for sharing, Lydia!
Ruth