Astroloba spiralis
| Astroloba spiralis | |
|---|---|
 | |
Scientific classification  | |
| Kingdom: | Plantae |
| Clade: | Angiosperms |
| Clade: | Monocots |
| Order: | Asparagales |
| Family: | Xanthorrhoeaceae |
| Subfamily: | Asphodeloideae |
| Genus: | Astroloba |
| Species: | A. spiralis |
| Binomial name | |
| Astroloba spiralis (L.) Uitewaal | |
Astroloba spiralis is a small succulent plant of the Astroloba genus, endemic to the southern Karoo regions of the Western and Eastern Cape Provinces, South Africa.[1]
Description
Astroloba spiralis is a compact Astroloba species, with stems that are densely covered in pointed succulent leaves. The leaves are blue-green to grey in colour, they grow in 5 rows that sometimes form a gentle spiral. The leaves also have smooth surfaces (unlike the tubercled leaves of Astroloba bullulata and Astroloba corrugata). The flowers appear in autumn.
This species is easily confused with its close relative, the rare Astroloba herrei. However Astroloba spiralis has more erect leaves (unlike the more spreading leaves of A.herrei) and its perianth is wrinked, not smooth.[2]
Distribution
It is indigenous to the southern edge of the Karoo region of South Africa, extending through the Little Karoo from Oudtschoorn in the Western Cape as far as the Graaff Reinet District in the Eastern Cape Great Karoo.[3]
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Wikimedia Commons has media related to Astroloba spiralis. |
References
- ↑ U. Eggli: Illustrated Handbook of Succulent Plants: Monocotyledons. Springer Science & Business Media, 2001. p.187.
- ↑ D.Court: Succulent Flora of Southern Africa. CRC: 2000. p.267.
- ↑ http://redlist.sanbi.org/species.php?species=2210-4