NAT. ORDER. 



Liliacea. 



ALOE SOCOTORINA. SOCOTORINE ALOE. 



Class VI. Hexandria. Order I. Monogynia. 



Gen. Char. Corolla erect, mouth spreading, bottom nectariferous. 

 Filaments inserted into the receptacle. 



S2)e. Char. Floicers in corymbs, sub-cylindrical, peduncled, droop- 

 ing. 



The stem, like all of the Aloe tribe, is erect, from one to two 

 feet in height, woody, leafless, and the lower part very rough, from 

 the remains of decayed leaves. " At top it is embraced by green, 

 sword-shaped, ascending leaves, somewhat concave on their upper sur- 

 face, convex beneath, curved inward at the point, wath numerous small 

 white serratures at their edges ; the Jlotcers, which are cylindrical, 

 simple raceme, are scarlet near the base, pale in the centre, and green- 

 ish at the summit, and have unequal stamens, of which three are longer 

 than the corolla." 



The plant received its name from the island of Socotra, of which 

 it is a native, and where the genuine Socotorine Aloes is produced. 

 This island lies in the straits of Babelmandel, about forty leagues to 

 the east of cape Guardafui ; but we are informed that a large portion 

 of what is sold under that name, is prepared in the kingdom of Me- 

 linda, upon the eastern coast of Africa, and some in the neighboring 

 parts of Arabia. It is said that the commerce in this variety of Aloes 

 is carried on chiefly by the maritime Arabs, who convey it cither to 

 India, or up the Red Sea, by the same channel through which it 



