it is part of a group of aloes which bear fleshy berries, and were therefore classed as a separate group, "lomatophyllum". within this group it is most closely related to "aloe pembana" and "aloe alexandrei" - both also from islands in the mozambique channel - as well as "aloe peyrierasii" from the north east corner of madagascar. these species are also more distantly related to "aloe purpurea" of mauritius, but differ by their larger leaves, longer flowers, and more widely interspaced leaf-teeth.