Astroloba
| Astroloba | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Astroloba congesta in cultivation | |
Scientific classification  | |
| Kingdom: | Plantae |
| Clade: | Angiosperms |
| Clade: | Monocots |
| Order: | Asparagales |
| Family: | Xanthorrhoeaceae |
| Subfamily: | Asphodeloideae |
| Genus: | Astroloba Uitewaal[1] |
Astroloba is a genus of flowering plants in the subfamily Asphodeloideae,[2] native to the Cape Province of South Africa.[1]
Naming
The name of the genus is derived from the Greek words astros, star, and lobos, lobe, and refers to the starlike shape of the petals, which appear at the end of the tube-like flowers.
Description
They are very closely related to the Haworthia genus, but are distinguished by their flowers being regular and not double-tipped. The flowers are small and white, and appear clustered on slender racemes.[3]
They bear very regular, sharp, triangular, succulent leaves along their symmetrical columnar stems. They are slow growing, multi-stemmed, and their longer stems tend to sprawl in their rocky natural habitat.
Distribution and habitat
These species are restricted to the dryer inland regions of the southern Cape, South Africa. In their arid natural habitat, they tend to favour semi-shade positions, with well-drained soil and winter rainfall.
Species
As of June 2013, the World Checklist of Selected Plant Families accepted seven species:[4]
- Astroloba bullulata (Jacq.) Uitewaal
- Astroloba congesta (Salm-Dyck) Uitewaal
- Astroloba corrugata N.L.Mey. & Gideon F.Sm. (also known as Astroloba aspera)
- Astroloba foliolosa (Haw.) Uitewaal
- Astroloba herrei Uitewaal
- Astroloba rubriflora (L.Bolus) Gideon F.Sm. & J.C.Manning (also known as Poellnitzia rubriflora)
- Astroloba spiralis (L.) Uitewaal
Natural hybrids of these species occur, and there are several varieties which are unresolved as to whether they constitute intermediate forms, hybrids or separate species (e.g. Astroloba hallii)
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Astroloba corrugata (aspera)
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Wikimedia Commons has media related to Astroloba. |
References
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 "Astroloba", World Checklist of Selected Plant Families (Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew), retrieved 2013-06-09
- ↑ Stevens, P.F. (2001 onwards), "Asphodeloideae", Angiosperm Phylogeny Website, retrieved 2013-06-09
- ↑ Eggli, Urs; Newton, Leonard E. (2010), Etymological Dictionary of Succulent Plant Names, Berlin/Heidelberg: Springer, ISBN 978-3-642-05597-3, p. 17
- ↑ Search for "Astroloba", World Checklist of Selected Plant Families, Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew, retrieved 2013-06-09