''Aloe buettneri'' is a species of

succulent plant In botany, succulent plants, also known as succulents, are plants with parts that are thickened, fleshy, and engorged, usually to retain water in arid climates or soil conditions. The word ''succulent'' comes from the Latin word ''sucus'', meani ...

in the family

Asphodelaceae Asphodelaceae is a family of flowering plants in the order Asparagales. Such a family has been recognized by most taxonomists, but the circumscription has varied widely. In its current circumscription in the APG IV system, it includes about 40 ...

. It is found in West Africa and is known for its medicinal uses.

Description

''Aloe buettneri'' is a succulent plant with thick and fleshy leaves arranged in a rosette. The leaves grow to about 40–80 cm long, 8–9 cm broad. The leaves are rimmed by alternating paired and solitary teeth and come together to form an underground bulb-like base making the plant appear stemless. The

flower A flower, sometimes known as a bloom or blossom, is the reproductive structure found in flowering plants (plants of the division Angiospermae). The biological function of a flower is to facilitate reproduction, usually by providing a mechani ...

s are arranged in a loose

panicle A panicle is a much-branched inflorescence. (softcover ). Some authors distinguish it from a compound spike inflorescence, by requiring that the flowers (and fruit) be pedicellate (having a single stem per flower). The branches of a panicle are of ...

. The plant carries up to 12 branches with bulbs that vary in color from green-yellow, orange, or dull red.Hans Dieter Neuwinger African Ethnobotany: Poisons and Drugs: Chemistry, Pharmacology, Toxicology (Chapman & Hall 1996) pg 7

Genetics and breeding

The chromosome number of ''Aloe buettneri'' is 2n=14. Except for '' Aloe vera'', all ''

Aloe ''Aloe'' (; also written ''Aloë'') is a genus containing over 650 species of flowering succulent plants.WFO (2022): Aloe L. Published on the Internet;http://www.worldfloraonline.org/taxon/wfo-4000001341. Accessed on: 06 Nov 2022 The most wid ...

'' species, including ''Aloe buettneri'', are listed by CITES, and trade in plants and plant parts is restricted. There are numerous plants present in private collections but there are no indications the species is threatened in the wild.

Distribution

The natural range of ''Aloe buettneri'' is mainly West African Savannas especially

Senegal Senegal,; Wolof: ''Senegaal''; Pulaar: 𞤅𞤫𞤲𞤫𞤺𞤢𞥄𞤤𞤭 (Senegaali); Arabic: السنغال ''As-Sinighal'') officially the Republic of Senegal,; Wolof: ''Réewum Senegaal''; Pulaar : 𞤈𞤫𞤲𞤣𞤢𞥄𞤲𞤣𞤭 � ...

Nigeria Nigeria ( ), , ig, Naìjíríyà, yo, Nàìjíríà, pcm, Naijá , ff, Naajeeriya, kcg, Naijeriya officially the Federal Republic of Nigeria, is a country in West Africa. It is situated between the Sahel to the north and the Gulf o ...

and

Togo Togo (), officially the Togolese Republic (french: République togolaise), is a country in West Africa. It is bordered by Ghana to the west, Benin to the east and Burkina Faso to the north. It extends south to the Gulf of Guinea, where its c ...

, however, it has been found as far as Central and Southern

Africa Africa is the world's second-largest and second-most populous continent, after Asia in both cases. At about 30.3 million km2 (11.7 million square miles) including adjacent islands, it covers 6% of Earth's total surface area ...

in countries such as

Zambia Zambia (), officially the Republic of Zambia, is a landlocked country at the crossroads of Central Africa, Central, Southern Africa, Southern and East Africa, although it is typically referred to as being in Southern Africa at its most cent ...

and

Malawi Malawi (; or aláwi Tumbuka: ''Malaŵi''), officially the Republic of Malawi, is a landlocked country in Southeastern Africa that was formerly known as Nyasaland. It is bordered by Zambia to the west, Tanzania to the north and northeast ...

.Burkill, H.M., 1995. The useful plants of West Tropical Africa. 2nd Edition. Volume 3, Families J–L. Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew, Richmond, United Kingdom. 857 pp. It mainly grows in these warm and dry areas. ''Aloe buettneri'' growth overlaps with the growth of ''Aloe schweinfurthii'', which is, along with ''Aloe buettneri'', is usually referred to as ''Aloe barteri'' Baker.

Uses

Medicinal

The leaves of ''Aloe buettneri'' can be applied externally and are believed to help skin conditions such as burns, wounds, insect bites, Guinea worm sores and vitiligo. In Burkina Faso the dried powdered leaves are taken to treat malaria, while in Côte d’Ivoire and

the roots are used for this purpose. Rheumatism is treated with leaf ash.

Veterinary

, the leaf sap is given to cattle as an anthelmintic.

Properties and research

The hydro-alcohol extract of ''Aloe buettneri'' A. Berger has

anti-inflammatory Anti-inflammatory is the property of a substance or treatment that reduces inflammation or swelling. Anti-inflammatory drugs, also called anti-inflammatories, make up about half of analgesics. These drugs remedy pain by reducing inflammation as o ...

, anti-ulcer and wound healing properties in rat oedema paw. The methanol extract shows ''in vivo'' activity against

helminthiasis Helminthiasis, also known as worm infection, is any macroparasitic disease of humans and other animals in which a part of the body is infected with parasitic worms, known as helminths. There are numerous species of these parasites, which are br ...

caused by ''Nippostrongylus'' species in rats.Burkill, H.M., 1995. The useful plants of West Tropical Africa. 2nd Edition. Volume 3, Families J–L. Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew, Richmond, United Kingdom. 857 pp

References

External links

{{Taxonbar, from=Q286682 buettneri Flora of Africa Flora of West Tropical Africa Flora of Nigeria Flora of Senegal Flora of Togo Plants described in 1905 Plants used in traditional African medicine Garden plants of Africa Drought-tolerant plants Taxa named by Alwin Berger