The Jerusalem Botanical Gardens

Common name: Maiden's Quiver Tree, אלווי מסועף, אלווי מסועף

Family: Asphodelaceae (Asphodel)

Synonym: Aloe dichotoma var. ramosissima

Distribution: South Africa and southern Namibia

Habitat: Rocky areas in the arid desert, up to 110 mm annual rainfall, temp. may reach 46 degrees celsius.

IUCN Red list: Vulnerable

Life form: Woody succulent

Species Etymology: According to one theory, the genus name Aloe originates in Arabic and means "bitter", due to the plants' bitter sap. The species epithet means "many branched".

In memory: of Nizza Yaffe-Ovadia, a teacher of nature and life.

Description: A multi-branched succulent shrub, except for its growth form it is very similar and close to Aloe dichotoma. The bark is white and smooth. This is the most branched Aloe species. The shrub grows as a spherical dense shrub, although it has a single trunk at the base, up to 1.2 m tall. The leaves are elongated, up to 20 cm long and 2 cm wide. They are yellowish-green, with small thorns in the margins. The leaves are arranged in spiral rosettes. the raceme is 20 cm long, with densely growing tubular yellow flowers.