Aloe Cooperi

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in biology, Aloe Cooperi (Alias:Cooper's Aloe and isiPutumane and isiPhukutwane Latin:Aloe cooperi Baker) is a species of flowering plant in the Asphodelaceae family.  succulent species that is endemic to Southern Africa. It has significant cultural and economic value to the Zulu people of South Africa.

Aloe cooperi Plants may be stemless or short stemmed up to 15 cm high. The leaves are often yellowish green with the upper surface usually unspotted, though occasionally they have a few white spots lower down. The inflorescence is simple and bold. The flowers of Aloe cooperi vary in colour from greenish-cream to apricot and salmon pink.

Apparently stemless grass aloe 0.6-1.2 m tall, solitary or in small groups. Leaves 16-20, distichous, rarely spirally twisted to rosulate in old specimens, 400-800 x 25-60 mm, distinct­ly keeled, V-shaped in section, bright green, undersurface white-spotted near base, margins cartilaginous, dentate. Inflorescence a conical, sublax raceme; peduncle 0.4-1 m long, with sterile bracts; bracts ovate-acuminate, 13-33 x 6-8 mm, many-nerved. Flowers salmon-pink to blood-red, 25-40 mm long; all segments free; pedicels 30-60 mm long, lengthening in fruit. Anthers not or hardly exserted. Ovary ±5x2 mm; style exserted 3-5 mm. Fruit 33-40 x 12-13 mm, grey.

This plant can be found along the southern warm coastal parts of Kwazulu-Natal and north up to the colder mountainous regions of Eswatini and Mpumalanga.

The specific epithet "cooperi (koo-PER-ee)" honors Thomas Cooper (1815-1913), an English horticulturalist and plant collector who rediscovered the species in 1860.

Light

When growing Aloe cooperi indoors, place your plant near a window that gets plenty of bright indirect light. Rotate the pot once or twice a week so that all sides of the plant receive equal lighting. Outdoors provide light shade, especially during the hottest parts of the day.

Soil

Plant Aloe cooperi in a well-drained soil mix formulated for succulents or make your own. Drainage is essential because too much moisture around roots can cause root rot.

Temperature

Though not particularly happy in high heat locations, Aloe cooperi can withstand temperatures as low as 30 °F (-12.2 °C).

Watering

This succulent does need regular watering but is very tolerant of drought conditions for short periods. Water deeply, but only when the soil is dry. Cut back on watering during the winter months. Do not let water stand in the rosettes.

Fertilizing

Aloe cooperi generally does not require fertilizer but may benefit from the extra nutrients. Feed with a fertilizer for succulents in spring and summer only. Be sure to follow the label directions.

Repotting

This plant is not particularly fast-growing and will only rarely need repotting. Repot it in the spring in a container a few inches larger in diameter every few years to keep it from becoming rootbound.

Propagation

Propagating Aloe cooperi can be done using seeds or offsets from a mature plant. Remove the offsets from late spring to early summer. For best results, sow seeds during the warm months.

IsiPutumane has significant cultural and economic value to the Zulu people, and the plant is harvested from the wild by locals for use as food and medicine. The young shoots and flowers are cooked and eaten as a vegetable, and a decoction of the flowers is taken to ease childbirth.

The Zulu people also believe that the smoke from burning leaves of Aloe cooperi in the cattle kraal will protect the cattle from the ill effects of eating improper food, and the plant juice has been fed to horses to rid them of ticks.

The distinctive constituents in Aloe leaves are phenolic compounds, including chromone, anthraquinone or anthrone derivatives. Some of the compounds are found in many species, whereas others occur in only a few.