Difference Between Agave and Aloe Vera

leaf

The leaves of agave are a bit similar to those of aloe vera, both are green and have small thorns. However, the leaves of agave are grayer, and can be up to 1.7 meters long and 20 centimeters wide. Aloe vera leaves are grass green, about 15 to 40 cm long and 1.5 cm thick. Relatively speaking, agave leaves are longer and larger.

Secondly, although the leaves of agave are fleshy, they have fine veins when broken and no juice will flow out. When the aloe leaves are broken, there are no fine veins and a yellow sticky juice will flow out.

Agave leaves have hooked thorns that are hard and sharp. Aloe leaves also have small thorns, but they are softer.

Leaf growth pattern

When agave leaves grow, they are wrapped in layers, with the outermost leaves wrapping the inner leaves. The base is arranged in a rosette shape. The leaves of aloe vera are arranged in a ring, separate from the leaflets, and grow in a relatively flamboyant manner.

Flowers

It is not easy to see the flowers of Agave. When it blooms, the pedicels emerge from the center of the rosette. The inflorescence is tall, up to 7 to 8 meters. When it blooms, there are hundreds of white or light yellow bell-shaped flowers. After flowering, it will produce oval or spherical fruits.

Aloe vera has a racemose inflorescence. When it blooms, the flower stems grow out from the leaves. The inflorescence is not as tall as that of agave, ranging from 60 to 90 cm. The flowers grow densely, are orange-yellow with yellow spots, have green calyx, and are slightly larger than those of agave. It produces triangular shaped fruits with many seeds.

It should be noted that agave is poisonous and may cause poisoning if ingested by mistake, and agave has no cosmetic effects. Some varieties of aloe vera are edible, but not all are non-toxic.