Anyway good efforts, Bindu ji. Here are some extracts from Wikipedia link: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Aloe_vera *Aloe vera*, also known as the *Medicinal Aloe*, is a species of succulent plant <http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Succulent_plant> that probably originated in northern Africa <http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Africa>. The species does not have any naturally occurring populations, although closely related *Aloes <http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Aloe>* do occur in northern Africa.[1] <http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Aloe_vera#cite_note-Akinyele-0> The species is frequently cited as being used in herbal medicine<http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Herbal_medicine>since the beginning of the first century AD, because it is mentioned in the New Testament <http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/New_Testament> (John<http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gospel_of_John>19:39–40 *And there came also Nicodemus, which at the first came to Jesus by night, and brought a mixture of myrrh and aloes...* ).[2]<http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Aloe_vera#cite_note-1>However, it is unclear whether the *aloes* described in the Bible are derived from *A. vera*. Extracts from *A. vera* are widely used in the cosmetics<http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cosmetics>and alternative medicine <http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Alternative_medicine> industries, being marketed as variously having rejuvenating, healing or soothing properties.[3] <http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Aloe_vera#cite_note-FLA-2>[4]<http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Aloe_vera#cite_note-MAL-3> [5] <http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Aloe_vera#cite_note-AA-4> There is, however, little scientific evidence of the effectiveness or safety of *A. vera* extracts for either cosmetic or medicinal purposes, and what positive evidence is available is frequently contradicted by other studies.[6]<http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Aloe_vera#cite_note-Ernst-5> [7] <http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Aloe_vera#cite_note-Marshall-6>[8]<http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Aloe_vera#cite_note-Boudreau-7> [9] <http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Aloe_vera#cite_note-Vogler-8> Despite these limitations, there is some preliminary evidence that *A. vera*extracts may be useful in the treatment of diabetes <http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Diabetes> and elevated blood lipids in humans.[8] <http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Aloe_vera#cite_note-Boudreau-7>These positive effects are thought to be due to the presence of compounds such as mannans <http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mannans>, anthraquinones<http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Anthraquinones>and lectins <http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lectins>.[8]<http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Aloe_vera#cite_note-Boudreau-7> [10] <http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Aloe_vera#cite_note-King-9>[11]<http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Aloe_vera#cite_note-Eshun-10>
*A. vera* is a stemless or very short-stemmed succulent<http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Succulent>plant growing to 60–100 cm <http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Centimetre> (24–39 in<http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Inch>) tall, spreading by offsets <http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Offsets>. The leaves <http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Leaf> are lanceolate<http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lanceolate>, thick and fleshy, green to grey-green, with some varieties showing white flecks on the upper and lower leaf surfaces.[12]<http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Aloe_vera#cite_note-Yates-11>The margin of the leaf is serrated <http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Serration> and has small white teeth. The flowers <http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Flower> are produced in summer on a spike up to 90 cm (35 in) tall, each flower pendulous, with a yellow tubular corolla <http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Corolla_(flower)> 2–3 cm (0.8–1.2 in) long.[12]<http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Aloe_vera#cite_note-Yates-11> [13] <http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Aloe_vera#cite_note-BPGE-12> Like other * Aloe* species, *A. vera* forms arbuscular mycorrhiza<http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Arbuscular_mycorrhiza>, a symbiosis <http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Symbiosis> that allows the plant better access to mineral nutrients in soil.[14]<http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Aloe_vera#cite_note-13> On Thu, Nov 13, 2008 at 11:16 PM, bindu kapadia <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote: > Aloevera blooming in my balcony.Sorry for the bad quality images. > I had been admiring the beauty everyday and realised so late to take the > photograph! > These are the remaining last. > Regards, > Bindu > > > > -- With regards, J.M.Garg "We often ignore the beauty around us" Creating Awareness about Indian Flora & Fauna: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/User:Jmgarg1 For learning about our trees & plants, please visit/ join Google e-group (Indiantreepix) http://groups.google.co.in/group/indiantreepix?hl=en --~--~---------~--~----~------------~-------~--~----~ You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups "indiantreepix" group. To post to this group, send email to [email protected] To unsubscribe from this group, send email to [EMAIL PROTECTED] For more options, visit this group at http://groups.google.co.in/group/indiantreepix?hl=en -~----------~----~----~----~------~----~------~--~---
