Aloe ferox standing in contrast

Aloes and some other big succulents may bring a very different appearance to a strip of veld by contrasting the common growth habits of predominating species. The survival solution of many plants in semi-arid vegetation lies in thousands of small, grey, hairy leaves.

These bold, in your face, erect succulent structures of Aloe ferox conserve their own moisture resources rather than concentrating only on reduction of evaporation. They defend themselves against herbivores in a physically assertive, even pugnacious manner, as well as by leaf taste (Van Wyk and Smith, 2003; iNaturalist.