Succulent, perennial herb, without stem or with stem up to 50 cm long, usually solitary or suckering to form small groups. Leaves 16–20 in a dense rosette; stipules absent; petiole absent; blade lanceolate, 25–50 cm × 5–10 cm, apex long-acuminate, margin with firm, brown, sharp teeth 3–4 mm long, 1–1.5 cm apart, blade fleshy, surface smooth, bright green, usually with elongated white spots in irregular transverse bands; exudate yellow. Inflorescence consisting of terminal head-like racemes 4–12 cm × 8 cm, densely flowered, sometimes to 20 cm long and more laxly flowered; peduncle up to 125 cm long, with 3–8 branches, lowest branches occasionally rebranched; bracts linear-lanceolate, 10–20(–25) mm × 4 mm. Flowers bisexual, regular, 3-merous; pedicel 2–3 cm long; perianth tubular, 3–4 cm long, inflated around the ovary, c. 5 mm diameter at the mouth, lobes 6, 10–13 mm long, orange-red, sometimes yellow, usually glossy; stamens 6, exserted; ovary superior, 3-celled, style filiform, stigma head-shaped, exserted. Fruit an ovoid capsule up to 28 mm long, pale brown, dehiscing loculicidally, many-seeded. Seeds c. 5 mm long, blackish brown, with speckled wings.

PROTAbase: Aloe lateritia

The leaf exudate of Aloe lateritia is used locally for treating colds and malaria. A decoction of the leaves is taken to treat hepatitis. Leaves are externally applied to wounds. A liquid obtained by pounding the leaves is drunk to relieve stomach-ache. A decoction of the roots together with Solanum incanum L. roots is taken to treat anaemia.