This is a book that examines the Aloe family from various angles: What are aloes - biology and ecology: growth forms; how they grow; reproduction, etc; How old are these plants; Aloes in the environment (fire; cold; aridity, etc); How to recognise aloes; Distribution and habitats with directory of common aloes by region (bushveld, arid west, fynbos, thicket, east coast, grassland); Uses of aloes; and, Aloes in the garden.