Not all Aloes are 
Healing! 
^ By S. A//cxn 
I n Kenya, we have almost fifty 
species of Aloe, including three 
exceedingly poisonous species. 
Many people have heard of Aloe 
vera, the so-called wonder plant, and 
mistakenly call all aloes Aloe vera. 
This has caused not just 
misunderstandings but has had 
serious consequences. Applying the 
wrong Aloe on a wound or eating 
the wrong Aloe can have fatal 
consequences. 
There are three poisonous Aloe 
species - Aloe ballyi, Aloe elata and 
Aloe ruspoliana. These species have 
leaf sap that gives off a strong ratty 
odour. Fortunately the first two 
species are relatively rare and not 
widespread but it is important to 
know your aloes before attempting to 
use them medicinally. 
Following a presidential ban on the 
collection of wild-growing aloes, 
commercial harvesting of aloe sap has 
taken its place. There is the danger 
that due to lack of knowledge, this 
sap could actually be sourced from 
poisonous aloes. 
Aloe Idlifiensis 
It's true that the leaves of several 
species of Aloe are used medicinally. 
And the roots of Aloe volkensii, for 
example, in combination with other 
plants, are a significant ingredient for 
many local brews. But beware! One of 
our missions in Succulenta East Africa 
is to raise public awareness that there 
are dangers out there and that not all 
aloes have medicinal properties! & 
Not all Aloes are Aloe Vera! 
The plants called Aloe include many different species. Most of them 
have succulent, spiky leaves and colourful flowers. You can see several 
Aloes on the grounds of the National Museums of Kenya. 
There is a very famous Aloe called Aloe vera. It does not grow wild in 
Kenya, but it is planted and used medicinally. 
The Aloes that we see in the countryside and on safari are not Aloe 
vera. They belong to different species of Aloe. Sue Allan tells you 
more about them... 
F. Ng’weno 
Distant galaxies in 
November sky 
tir By r. /Vcj 
In the south 
Our sun and all the stars we 
see with the naked eye are 
part of the Milky Way galaxy. 
On clear dark evenings in 
November, we can see other, 
more distant galaxies. Find a 
viewing point where you can 
see low in the south, on a clear, 
moonless evening. High in the 
south, almost overhead, is the 
bright star Fomalhaut. Below 
Fomalhaut is an even brighter 
star, Achernar. 
Below Ac\\zrmr, low on the 
southern horizon, look for two 
pale areas like small round 
clouds. These are the Small 
and Large Magellanic Clouds. 
The two Magellanic Clouds 
are actually small galaxies, 
composed of millions of stars. 
In the north 
Turn around to find the bright 
white star Vega low in the 
northwest (to the right of the 
sunset). Higher in the north is 
the bright star Deneb, in the 
constellation Cygnus the flying 
swan. High above, four stars 
form the corners of a large 
square shape. This is the Great 
Square of Pegasus, the flying 
horse of the ancient Greeks. 
Below Pegasus and east (right) 
of Deneb, is the constellation 
of Cassiopeia: Five bright stars 
forming a giant letter 'M'. 
Between the square of Pegasus 
and the M-shape of Cassiopeia, 
look for a blurred bright light. 
That bright, fuzzy spot is the 
Great Spiral Nebula M31, the 
Andromeda galaxy. 
Planets, Nov 2017 
The bright planets are low 
in the eastern sky at dawn: 
Brilliant Venus sinking towards 
the horizon; golden Jupiter 
rising from the sunrise. They 
seem to pass so close to 
each other on Nov 12 and 13. 
(Actually Venus is between the 
Earth and the sun, and Jupiter 
is much further away.) The 
waning crescent moon is near 
Jupiter on Nov 16, and near 
Venus on Nov 17. 
Meanwhile, in the evening 
sky, tiny but bright Mercury 
rises above the sunset. Early 
in November it is near the 
reddish star Antares in the 
constellation of the Scorpion. 
Late in November Mercury 
rises towards Saturn that is 
setting; the two planets pass 
each other at month's end. 
The new crescent moon is near 
Mercury and Saturn on Nov 20. 
Moon, Oct 2017 
Nov 4: full moon. Nov 10: last 
quarter ("half" moon overhead 
at sunrise). Nov 18: new moon. 
Nov 26: first quarter (“half" 
moon overhead at sunset). Dec 
3 - full moon, a "supermoon" 
slightly closer and larger than 
usual. 4. 
Join Kenya Museum Society and The Travelling Telescope at Nairobi 
National Museum as we explore the night sky. We shall have a mobile 
planetarium, remote navigator and one of the largest telescope in 
Kenya. The focus for the 25th November will be the Moon. Event is 
open for kids aged 3 years and above as well as adults. 
BOOK YOUR SPOT TODAY 
KMS/Nature Kenya Members - Ksh 1,850 (Per person, both adults & kids) Guests - Ksh 2,050 
PAYMENT OPTIONS 
Safaricom: Mpesa paybill. Business No: 400800, Account: 6571570019 
Airtel Money: 0780 755 231 
RSVP: 0724 255 299,078 755 231, 2339158 or info@kenyamuseumsociety.org 
€& %\wya Museum Society 
W andlhe Travelling TeCescope 
Exploring the Universe 
® Nairobi National Museu 
Saturday 25 th November 20 
6:00 - 10:00pm 
