Aloes come in a variety of growth forms, from small miniatures to tall single-stemmed or branched trees, while certain species even form large, tangled shrubs. The usually swollen and succulent leaves are more or less lance- or sword-shaped in outline and boat-shaped in cross-section. Leaves are arranged in terminal clusters (rosettes) and are armed along their margins with usually sharp, but sometimes soft, teeth.
Flowers are grouped in candle-like or cone-shaped inflorescences, which can be branched or simple. The most common shape of flowers found in Aloe is tubular flowers, although some species have curved or even bell-shaped flowers. Flowers are typically brightly coloured and most often in various hues of red, orange and yellow, but there are also some species with green, pink or white flowers. The vast majority of aloes flower in winter, while some groups, like the grass aloes for instance, usually flower in spring or summer.
The origin of the genus name Aloe is uncertain, but the most popularly accepted suggestions are that it is derived from: the Arabic ‘alloch' or ‘alloeh', a vernacular name for medicinally used members of the genus; or the Greek ‘aloë', referring to the dried juice of aloe leaves.
In South Africa most aloes are also protected, with very few exceptions, by environmental legislation in all nine provinces. It is thus illegal to remove plants from their natural habitat without the necessary collecting and transport permits issued by a provincial or other nature conservation authority, and consent from the land owner.
Aloes have a very long history of medicinal, cosmetic and cultural uses. Many early civilizations were familiar with the healing properties of Aloe vera in particular. This species likely originates from the Arabian Peninsula, but is today cultivated almost world-wide and has become naturalised in many areas. Over the past decades the use of Aloe ferox, indigenous to South Africa, in the traditional pharmaceutical and cosmetic industry has increased significantly.
To find the cache go to the given coordinates and deduce the coordinates,ABCDEF, from the clue you will find there. The coordinates for the final cache are given by:
S 34 04.ABC
E 019 36.DEF