ALETIS, in botany, a genus of the monogynia order, belonging to the hexandria class of plants, and in the natural method ranking under the 10th order, Coronarie. The characters are: The corolla is monopetalous, funnel-shaped, hexangular, much corrugated, semiquinquefid, and persistent: The stamina consist of six subulated filaments, the length of the corolla, and inserted into the base of the divisions of the corolla; the antheræ are oblong and erect: The pistillum has an ovate germin; the stylus subulated, and the length of the stamina; the stigma is trifid: The pericarpium is an ovated capsule, triquetrous, pointed, and trilocular: The seeds are numerous. Of this genus botanical writers enumerate five.
Species. 1. The farinosa, a native of Virginia, and other parts of North America. 2. The capensis, a native of the Cape of Good Hope. 3. The hyacinthoides, or Guinea aloe. 4. The zeylanica, or Ceylon aloe. 5. The fragrans, or tree-aloe, a native of Africa. Of these only the first is so hardy as to outlive the winter in Britain, unless placed in a stove; and even this requires to be sheltered under a frame. The flowers appear in June or July, of a whitish green colour. The third and fifth produce fine spikes of white flowers; those of the third kind appearing in July, of the fifth in March or April. By proper management the last kind becomes a stately plant, rising to the height of 12 or 14 feet; the flowers open wide in the evening, and perfume the air of the stove. These send out one or two heads, or tufts, towards their tops, which may be cut off; and after they have lain a week in the stove to heal the wounded parts, they may be planted for increase. The other species seldom or never flower in this country, nor does their appearance otherwise merit notice.