Herb Academy

Professional Online Herbalist Training

  • Home
  • My Courses
    • My Achievements
    • My Account
  • Training Paths
  • Monographs
  • Articles
  • Enrollments

December 19, 2019

Aloe maculata

Aloe maculata

Aloe maculata (Seepaalwyn, Soap Aloe, Icena) has a wide range of uses in traditional medicine for both people and animals. It is also edible and is a good addition to any eco-garden.

Aloe maculata Monograph

This monograph contains details of Aloe maculata as per the references cited below. If you can provide any additional information, photos or reliable records, or spot any errors, please leave a comment below or in The Muthi Flora of southern Africa Facebook group.

[caption id="attachment_18695" align="aligncenter" width="1024"] Aloe maculata. Credit: Blooming Succulents[/caption]

Traditional Medicinal Uses of Aloe maculata

Administered to people: Cold crushed leaf infusions are administered as enemas after other purgative medicines have been taken. Powdered flower infusions are administered orally or as enemas to children with feverish colds. Stems and leaves are used as emetics when narcotic substances have been absorbed and powdered root and stem infusions are taken for discomfort from too much food or alcohol. Roots are used to treat skin disorders internally while powder from the plant, boiled with the fat of a pig or sheep, is used in ointments applied to sores, pimples and skin lesions. (Hutchings et.al.)

Leaves are used in various parts of Africa for treating wounds, blisters, sores and ringworm. (Hutchings et.al.)

Purgative effects are reported. (Hutchings et.al.)

Administered to animals: Cold leaf infusions are used for 'blood scours' in calves and for enteritis and indigestion in poultry. (Hutchings et.al.)

Edible: Eaten by the Zulus in times of famine. It is cooked and the first water for cooking is discarded to lessen the bitter taste. (Fox and Norwood Young)

Other Uses: The sap from the leaves is said to be used by people of various cultures as a substitute for soap.

Eco-Gardening

Aloe maculata is a hardy small Aloe. It is normally stemless. The broad, triangular, recurved leaves have strong, sharp teeth along the margin. They are covered in white spots and the tips become dry and shrivelled with age. It produces flowering heads of distinctively flat-topped racemes. Aloe maculata attracts sunbirds when in flower and is an excellent addition to any garden. (Wildflower Nursery)

Flower colour ranges from yellow and red to orange. Flowering time is variable, and various forms may flower in summer (January), winter (June) or spring (August, September). (PlantZAfrica)

Growing Aloe maculata

The slow-growing soap aloe provides an excellent focal point for a rockery garden and should be planted in well-drained soil mixed with compost. Propagate it from seed sown in a good seedling mix.

Habitat and Ecology

Highly variable. Occurs mostly in grassland, from sea level to high altitude alpine flora in the Drakensberg. Also often found in rocky outcrops and thicket vegetation. Major habitats: Albany Thicket, Fynbos, Grassland. (von Staden)

Conservation Status

Extremely widespread and common in South Africa, ranging from the Cape Peninsula along the Western Cape south coast to the Eastern Cape, where it also occurs further inland in the northern parts of the Eastern Cape to the Drakensberg foothills. It is also found on the highlands of Lesotho and the Free State but does not occur on the highest peaks of the Drakensberg Escarpment. In KwaZulu-Natal, the range extends along the Drakensberg foothills and through the Midlands northwards to southern Mpumalanga. Aloe maculata also occurs in the Inyanga district in Zimbabwe. (von Staden)

References

Arnold. T.H., Prentice, C.A., Hawker, L.C., Snyman, E.E., Tomalin, M., Crouch, N.R. and Pottas-Bircher, C. (2002). Medicinal and magical plants of southern Africa: an annotated checklist. Strelitzia 13. South African National Biodiversity Institute, Pretoria.

Fox, F.W., Norwood Young, M.E. (1982). Food From The Veld. Edible Wild Plants of southern Africa. Delta Books, Craighall.

Hutchings, A., Scott, A.H., Lewis, G., Cunnigham, A.B., (1996). Zulu Medicinal Plants: an inventory. University of Natal

PlantZAfrica - http://pza.sanbi.org/aloe-maculata. Accessed on 2020/01/

von Staden, L. 2008. Aloe maculata All. National Assessment: Red List of South African Plants version 2017.1. Accessed on 2020/01/06

Wildflower Nursery - https://wildflowernursery.co.za/indigenous-plant-database/aloe-maculata/. Accessed on 2020/01/06

Quick Links: Monograph Library | Advanced Monograph Search

Additional Data (Advanced Search Fields)

Synonyms
Aloe latifolia Haw., Aloe saponaria (Aiton) Haw., Aloe. saponaria (Aiton) Haw. var. ficksburgensis Reynolds
Vernacular Names
Bontaalwyn, Seepaalwyn (Afrikaans); Common Soap Aloe, White Spotted Aloe (English); Lekhala, Lekhala La Thaba (S Sotho); Ingcelwane (Xhosa); Amahlala, Icena (Zulu)
Family
Asphodelaceae
Broad Use Categories
Children's Health Issues, Digestive Disorders, Eco-Gardening, Infections, Injuries and Poisoning, Skin Disorders, Veterinary Use
Application (Uses)
blisters, colds, emetic, enema, indigestion, pimples, purgative, ringworm, sores, wounds
Plant Type
Herb, succulent
Parts Used
Flower, Leaf, Root
Origin
Indigenous
Distribution
Swaziland (S), Lesotho (S), Mpumalanga Province (M), Free State Province (FS), KwaZulu-Natal Province (KZN), Western Cape Province (WC), Eastern Cape Province (EC)
Habitat
Albany Thicket, Fynbos, Grassland
Conservation Status
(LC) According to the Red List of South African plants, Aloe maculata is not threatened and is assessed as Least Concern (LC).
Trade
Traded
Monograph Type
Expanded

Article by Di-Di Leave a Comment

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

You must be logged in to post a comment.

LEARNER LOGIN

Lost your Password? Recover it here

Browse Monographs by Application

abdominal pain abscesses aphrodisiac backache burns and scalds colds colic constipation convulsions corns cough diabetes diarrhoea divining dizziness dysentery eczema emetic enema epilepsy evil fever flu fodder furniture haemorrhoids headache impotence indigestion infertility insomnia measles menses painful joints pimples purgative snakebite snakes snuff sores sore throat syphilis tonic venereal disease wounds

Popular Courses

  • cooking with herbs and spices Cooking With Herbs and Spices - Mini Masterclass
    Rated 4.76 out of 5
    $15.92
  • level 3 professional family herbalist course bundle Level 3 Professional Family Herbalist: 6-in-1 Course Bundle $199.60 $119.60
  • level 6 professional family herbalist Professional Family Herbalist - Complete 12-in-1 Course Bundle $455.12 $239.60

Recent Comments

  • Bridgette Du Preez on Accreditation and Serving Clients
  • Bridgette Du Preez on Optional Reading: Gardening Books
  • Bridgette Du Preez on Finding The Best Spot(s)
  • Bridgette Du Preez on 7 Reasons For Starting A Small Food Garden
  • Bridgette Du Preez on The Three Best Sustainable Gardening Systems

Member Admin

  • About
  • FAQ’s
  • Terms of Service
  • Contact Us

Registrations

  • Amateur Herbalist
  • Professional Herbalist
  • Master Green Healer
  • Masterclasses

Need Help?

+27 82 416 7145

Connect With Us

  • E-mail
  • Facebook
  • Pinterest
  • RSS

Copyright © 2004 – 2022 All Rights Reserved