Re: VMs: VMS Page f3r

[Koontz John E <John.Koontz@xxxxxxxxxxxx>]

On Wed, 20 Apr 2005, JH wrote:
> Does anyone have any opinions on whether the plant on page f3r could be
> a species of Aloe. If not then why would you say it is not?

Looking at the image suggested (1006080), out on Route 66, as it were, I
would have to say that it doesn't look like an aloe to me, or at least not
like an Aloe vera.  I understand there are c. 350 aloe species, however,
and that makes me wonder if we have the same aloe in mind.

As to why not, Aloe vera is a stemless plant with a cluster of oblong,
fleshy leaves overlapping each other alternately for a short distance at
the base and projecting upward.  The leaves are light green with faint
light colored blotches on them.  The leaves also have small teeth along
the edges at intervals.  This plant has a distinct stem and the leaves,
though they seem to lap over each other in about the right way (though
extending an essentially horizontal direction), grow out along an
appreciable length of the upper end of the stem.  It looks like the leaves
are alternately green and red, with broad white edges.  There are dots
long the edges that might be interpreted as the teeth.  These leaves seem
much broader in proportion to their length than I would expect.  The roots
look about right.

I realize that neither the older herbals to which the VMs has been
compared nor the VMs artist(s) have any great reputaiton for accurate
rendition, and I'm not really familiar with any old traditions in drawing
Aloe vera.

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