Aloeaceae
	Genera : 5 Species: 700 +/-   Links to Genus Directory of Images: Aloe

Distribution: Africa, Arabia and Madagascar with greatest diversity in South Africa.

Economic Uses: Medicinally as a treatment for burns and skin ailments and as ornamentals.

Defining Features of Interest: The family is included in the Liliaceae by some researchers as it is similar to this family in many ways.

Fossil Evidence: No known fossil record.

Defining Morphology

Floral Features : Actinomorphic or zygomorphic and perfect. Inflorescence often showy and as terminal panicles, racemes or spikes. Hypogynous.

Fruit and Seed Features : Fruit a berry or loculicidal capsule. Seeds many and flattened or winged with endosperm present. Placentation is axile.

Vegetative Features : Habit is as succulent herbs, shrubs or trees with a fleshy rhizome. Leaves simple and sessile with prickly margins and alternate, clustered at the base of the stem in rosettes. Stipules are lacking.