Ever since I saw Carl Jason Smorenburg ‘s recent photo, I’ve been wanting to get my own photo of an aloe. I pulled over on the R34 outside Vryheid, hopped a fence and snapped this proud aloe. Next, I want a similar photo but with the sun coming up 🙂
Canon 6D, 17/40mm, F9, 1/25 sec, ISO 320
The bitter aloe is most famous for its medicinal qualities, provided by the golden-brown sap of the leaves. The long, tapering leaves are green, sometimes with a slightly blue or reddish tinge, and bear sharp, brown teeth on the margins, and sometimes also on the surface of the leaf. Indeed, the scientific name of this species alludes to the prickly leaves, as ferox means ‘fierce’ in Latin. The leaves are arranged in a rosette, and as the leaves age and die, they remain attached to the plant, forming a ‘petticoat’ of dried leaves around the base of the stem. The flowers of the bitter aloe vary in colour from red to orange and yellow, and occasionally white, and are borne on spike-like heads.” ~ http://www.arkive.org/
Andrew Harvard Photography 
Great back drop!
Cheers Allan!
Andrew this is NOT a ‘bitter aalwyn’ or Aloe ferox. Most probably it’s the aloe specie ‘Vryheidiensis’ or a hybridised version of it. The ‘Aloe vryheidiensis’ only grows in the wild in the Vryheid region, hence the botanical name. The Aloe ferox originates (although widely spread in SA) from the Wester/Eastern Cape… 😉
I’ve just found one on it’s side, about to die. Took it home. Planted with love. Will send photo soon
😉
… BTW whenever you’re in this area again I’ll show you the ferox and you’ll notice the differences..
Need another coffee too! 🙂
No problem. You’re welcome!
Love this photo..