Gasteria brachyphylla

Gasteria brachyphylla ("Klein Karoo gasteria") is succulent plant native to the Western Cape, South Africa.

Gasteria brachyphylla
Gasteria brachyphylla in habitat, near Zoar
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Plantae
Clade: Tracheophytes
Clade: Angiosperms
Clade: Monocots
Order: Asparagales
Family: Asphodelaceae
Subfamily: Asphodeloideae
Genus: Gasteria
Species:
G. brachyphylla
Binomial name
Gasteria brachyphylla
(L.) Haw.

Description

This species of Gasteria has its strap-shaped leaves in two opposite rows (distichous). Its flowers are 12–22 mm long. It very closely resembles its two relatives, Gasteria pillansii and Gasteria disticha to the north, both of which are also distichous.

However G. brachyphylla can be distinguished by its very shiny, smooth leaves (its two relatives' leaves are rough with tiny tubercles). "Brachyphylla" means "wide/short leaves", and this species's leaves are shorter than its relatives'.

It is proliferous, and has pink flowers which appear around September.

  • Botanical sketch by Maria Moninckx
  • Inflorescence, growing west of Ladismith

Distribution

It occurs under shrubs in the Succulent Karoo vegetation of the Little Karoo in the Western Cape, South Africa. It is found as far west as Barrydale, and as far east as Uniondale.[1]

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References
  1. Gasteria brachyphylla - PlantZAfrica.com information page
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