Aloes: The Definitive Guide by S. Carter, J.J. Lavranos, L.E. Newton & C.C. Walker (Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew – Kew Publishing, 2011) is the most comprehensive modern treatment of the genus Aloe ever published. Issued in 2011, this hardcover reference was produced in association with the British Cactus and Succulent Society and quickly became the standard global reference for botanists, succulent enthusiasts, conservation professionals, and horticulturalists alike.
Spanning approximately 719 pages, Aloes: The Definitive Guide offers an extraordinary synthesis of taxonomic research, species descriptions, identification keys, and distribution data for all currently recognised Aloe taxa. Dichotomous keys allow readers to identify species by size and habit, while detailed entries summarise morphology, habitat, diagnostic features, relationships, and geographic ranges. An extensive, illustrated chapter on the history of aloe discovery, particularly in tropical Africa, adds contextual depth to the botanical material.
The book’s layout and visual content reflect its dual purpose as both a scientific reference and a beautifully produced volume. It includes hundreds of colour photographs, botanical illustrations, and a distribution map, alongside academic apparatus such as a pictorial glossary, comprehensive bibliography, and synonym index. This breadth makes the book invaluable not only for field identification but for research, conservation planning, and cultivation reference.
Published by Kew Publishing, the imprint of the renowned Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew, this edition draws on contributions from leading experts in succulent taxonomy. Its publication marked the first truly global, synthesis-level account of Aloe since earlier mid-twentieth-century works, and it remains a cornerstone reference for anyone seriously engaged with the biology, diversity, and appreciation of aloes worldwide.
