Aloe nuttii (PROTA)

Plant Resources of Tropical Africa Introduction

List of species

General importance
Geographic coverage Africa
Geographic coverage World
Medicinal
Ornamental

Aloe nuttii Baker

Protologue: Dyer, Hooker’s Icon. pl. 26: t. 2513 (1897).

Family: Asphodelaceae

Vernacular names

• Kisimamleo, mshubili, msubili (Sw).

Origin and geographic distribution

Aloe nuttii occurs from DR Congo and Tanzania south to Malawi, Zambia, Angola and Mozambique.

Uses

Aloe nuttii is medicinally used in Tanzania. The leaf sap is rubbed on the skin to treat ringworm. A decoction of the roots is drunk to cure kidney problems and as an aphrodisiac. A decoction of the leaves is drunk to cure diarrhoea. In Malawi Aloe nuttii is used in veterinary medicine to prevent Newcastle disease in chickens, for deworming and to ease parturition. Mature flowers are boiled and eaten as a vegetable in Tanzania. Aloe nuttii is grown as a garden ornamental in the tropics and subtropics, and as a pot plant.

Description

Succulent perennial herb up to 1 m tall; stem 5 cm in diameter, solitary or suckering to produce a cluster of up to 12 plants. Leaves 16–20 in a rosette, erect; stipules absent; petiole absent; blade linear, 40–50 cm × 1.5–2(–4) cm, grass-like, apex acute, margin white, hard and tough, with soft teeth, c. 1 mm long, crowded at base, almost absent towards tip, blade with scattered whitish spots towards the base on lower surface. Inflorescence a terminal cylindrical-acuminate raceme 15–25 cm × 8–9 cm, dense; peduncle erect, unbranched, 60–80 cm long; bracts ovate, 15–20 mm long, apex acute, imbricate in bud. Flowers bisexual, regular, 3-merous; pedicel 3–3.5 cm long; perianth tubular, c. 4 cm × 1 cm, lobes 6, up to 30 mm long, coral-pink to orange-red, green-tipped; stamens 6, slightly exserted; ovary superior, 3-celled, style filiform, stigma head-shaped, slightly exserted. Fruit an ovoid capsule up to 4 cm long, dehiscing loculicidally, pale brown, many-seeded.

Other botanical information

Aloe comprises about 450 species in Africa and Arabia, of which c. 315 occur in mainland Africa, c. 100 are endemic to Madagascar or the Indian Ocean islands (including the former Lomatophyllum) and c. 50 occur in Arabia. Several other Aloe species have medicinal uses in southern Africa.

Aloe cooperi

A flower decoction of Aloe cooperi Baker from Mozambique and South Africa is taken by the Zulu people to ease childbirth. In Swaziland the young shoots and flowers are cooked and eaten as a vegetable. Aloe cooperi is planted as an ornamental in South Africa.

Aloe greatheadii

In Zimbabwe leaf sap of Aloe greatheadii Schönland is used as eye drops to cure chronic conjunctivitis. An infusion or decoction of the leaves is drunk to treat gonorrhoea. An infusion of the leaves is used as a malaria prophylactic and is taken as a purgative and put in drinking water of poultry to cure diseases. In South Africa the leaf sap is applied externally to bruises, burns and skin irritations. Leaf pulp is used to treat snakebites. Flower buds are considered a delicacy. Large concentrated populations of Aloe greatheadii are an indication of overgrazing. Seedlings are planted in land reclamation trials; they need partial shade for survival.

Aloe ortholopha

Probably Aloe ortholopha Christian & Milne-Redh., which is endemic to Zimbabwe and resembles Aloe greatheadii, has similar medicinal uses.

Aloe hereroensis

In Namibia a leaf infusion of Aloe hereroensis Engl. is taken to treat digestive problems, chest and heart pains, urinary incontinence and venereal diseases. Both leaf sap and roots are used to treat gonorrhoea. The leaf sap is used to cure eye problems.

Aloe swynnertonii

Aloe swynnertonii Rendle is used in Malawi as fish poison, and in South Africa, it is used in a mixture with other plants to kill pests in vegetable crops.

Aloe dichotoma

In Namibia the Topnaar people drink a decoction of the roots of Aloe dichotoma Masson to treat asthma and tuberculosis. In the past, the hollow branches were used as quivers for arrows. The Nama people use the porous inner fibre of the trunk as cooling material. Sheep eat the dry leaves. Aloe dichotoma is planted as an ornamental in South Africa.

Ecology

Aloe nuttii occurs in moist grassland (‘dambos’) and often on rocky slopes, at 1600–2650 m altitude.

Management

Aloe nuttii is collected from the wild and leaves can be harvested throughout the year. Flowers can be collected at the end of the rainy season.

Genetic resources

Aloe nuttii is not uncommon and probably not in danger of genetic erosion. However, all Aloe species except Aloe vera (L.) Burm.f. are listed by CITES, and trade in plants and plant parts is restricted.

Prospects

Aloe nuttii is not suitable for large scale exploitation or domestication because of the small plant size and narrow leaves; it will therefore remain of local importance only.

Major references

• Carter, S., 2001. Aloaceae. In: Pope, G.V. (Editor). Flora Zambesiaca. Volume 12, part 3. Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew, Richmond, United Kingdom. pp. 48–98.

• Gelfand, M., Mavi, S., Drummond, R.B. & Ndemera, B., 1985. The traditional medical practitioner in Zimbabwe: his principles of practice and pharmacopoeia. Mambo Press, Gweru, Zimbabwe. 411 pp.

• Newton, L.E., 2001. Aloe In: Eggli, U. (Editor). Illustrated handbook of succulent plants: Monocotyledons. Springer-Verlag, Berlin, Germany. pp. 103–186.

• Ruffo, C.K., Birnie, A. & Tengnäs, B., 2002. Edible wild plants of Tanzania. Technical Handbook No 27. Regional Land Management Unit/ SIDA, Nairobi, Kenya. 766 pp.

• van Wyk, B.E., van Oudtshoorn, B. & Gericke, N., 1997. Medicinal plants of South Africa. Briza Publications, Pretoria, South Africa. 304 pp.

Other references

• Dlamini, B., 1981. Swaziland Flora: their local names and uses. Ministry of Agriculture and Cooperatives, Mbabane, Swaziland. 72 pp.

• Glen, H.F. & Hardy, D.S., 2000. Aloaceae: Aloe. In: Germishuizen, G. (Editor). Flora of southern Africa. Volume 5, part 1, fascicle 1: first part. National Botanical Institute, Pretoria, South Africa. 167 pp.

• Kambewa, B.M.D, Mfitilodze, M.W., Hüttner, K., Wollny, C.B.A. & Phoya, R.K.D., 1999. The use of indigenous veterinary remedies in Malawi. In: Mathias, E., Rangnekar, D.V. & McCorkle, C.M. (Editors). Ethnoveterinary medicine: alternatives for livestock development. Proceedings of an International Conference held in Pune, India, on November 4–6, 1997. Volume 1: Selected Papers. BAIF Development Research Foundation, Pune, India. pp. 60–66.

• Lukwa, N., Makaza, N., Molgaard, P. & Furu, P., 2001. Perceptions about malaria transmission and control using anti-malaria plants in Mola, Kariba, Zimbabwe. Nigerian Journal of Natural Products and Medicine 5: 4–7.

• Neuwinger, H.D., 2000. African traditional medicine: a dictionary of plant use and applications. Medpharm Scientific, Stuttgart, Germany. 589 pp.

• SEPASAL, 2005. Aloe dichotoma. [Internet] Survey of Economic Plants for Arid and Semi-Arid Lands (SEPASAL) database. Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew, Richmond, United Kingdom. http://www.kew.org/ ceb/sepasal/. November 2005.

• Smith, G.F & de Correia, R.I., 1992. Establishment of Aloe greatheadii var. Davyana from seed for use in reclamation trials. Landscape and Urban Planning 23(1): 47–54.

• Tredgold, M.H., 1986. Food plants of Zimbabwe. Mambo Press, Gweru, Zimbabwe. 153 pp.

• Van Damme, P. & Van den Eynden, V., 2000. Succulent and xerophytic plants used by the Topnaar of Namibia. Haseltonia 7: 53–62.

• von Koenen, E., 2001. Medicinal, poisonous and edible plants in Namibia. Klaus Hess Verlag, Göttingen, Germany. 336 pp.

Author(s)

• C.H. Bosch, PROTA Network Office Europe, Wageningen University, P.O. Box 341, 6700 AH Wageningen, Netherlands

Correct citation of this article

Bosch, C.H., 2006. Aloe nuttii Baker. In: Schmelzer, G.H. & Gurib-Fakim, A. (Editors). PROTA (Plant Resources of Tropical Africa / Ressources végétales de l’Afrique tropicale), Wageningen, Netherlands. Accessed 3 April 2025.

• See the Prota4U database.