Aloe officinalis var. officinalis

Overview

Aloe officinalis var. officinalis is the accepted autonymic variety of Aloe officinalis, native to the southwestern Arabian Peninsula in Saudi Arabia and Yemen. [1, 2]

Key characteristics

Growth form

A succulent perennial; plants are described as usually creeping and strongly offsetting, often forming large clumps (McCoy 2019), and as suckering and decumbent (Carter et al. 2011). [1, 3, 4]

Leaves

Leaves are narrowly ensiform, glossy yellow-green and spotted in McCoy (2019), and ensiform, yellow-green and spotted in Carter et al. (2011). [3, 4]

Inflorescence and flowers

Racemes are described as erect and cylindrical, with yellow or orange-red flowers (McCoy 2019); Carter et al. (2011) also record cylindrical racemes and red, yellow or orange, clavate perianths. [3, 4]

Distribution

Native to the southwestern Arabian Peninsula, in Saudi Arabia and Yemen. [1, 2]

Etymology

The epithet officinalis refers to medicinal use and derives from Latin officinalis, meaning “used medicinally”. [5]

Classification and nomenclature

Accepted name: Aloe officinalis Forssk. var. officinalis [1]

Parent taxon: Aloe officinalis
Sibling variety: Aloe officinalis var. angustifolia

Main references

World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP).
World Flora Online (2026). Aloe officinalis var. officinalis. WCVP distribution data. Accessed 2026-09-10. Source
McCoy, T. (2019). The Aloes of Arabia. McCoy Publishing, Temecula, California. pp. 85–87.
Carter, S., Lavranos, J.J., Newton, L.E. & Walker, C.C. (2011). Aloes: The Definitive Guide. Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew. pp. 430–431.
Grace, O.M., Klopper, R.R., Figueiredo, E. & Smith, G.F. (2011). The Aloe Names Book. Strelitzia 28. South African National Biodiversity Institute, Pretoria. p. 112.
Forster, P.I. & Clifford, H.T. (1986). Aloeaceae. Flora of Australia 46: 66–70. Australian Government Publishing Service, Canberra. p. 70. Source

Updates

Classification, distribution and descriptive information are revised as new sources are verified or taxonomic treatments change.