Gasteria pillansii
| Gasteria pillansii | |
|---|---|
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| Gasteria pillansii in cultivation | |
Scientific classification  | |
| Kingdom: | Plantae |
| Clade: | Angiosperms |
| Clade: | Monocots |
| Order: | Asparagales |
| Family: | Xanthorrhoeaceae |
| Subfamily: | Asphodeloideae |
| Genus: | Gasteria |
| Species: | G. pillansii |
| Binomial name | |
| Gasteria pillansii (L.) Haw. | |
Gasteria pillansii ("Namaqua Gasteria") is succulent plant native to the arid winter-rainfall regions in the far west of South Africa and Namibia.
Description
This species of Gasteria has its strap-shaped leaves in two opposite rows (distichous), and is very variable in its appearance.
In its vegetative appearance, it looks very similar to the related species Gasteria disticha to the south, which is also distichous. However the flowers are different, with G.disticha having tiny flowers of just 12-20 mm which have flower bases that are inflated or swollen for roughly two-thirds of the flower length.[1]
It is proliferous, with pink flowers and appears between September and December.
Distribution
It occurs in the arid winter rainfall region in the far west of South Africa. This is succulent Karoo vegetation, and corresponds to the Namaqualand. It also extends into the far south of Namibia.
It is the only Gasteria species to extend this far north along the west coast of southern Africa, with most of its relatives occurring along the wetter south and east coast of the subcontinent. It is also the only purely winter-rainfall species in the genus.
In its natural habitat, it is typically found under rocks or bushes that provide it with some shelter from the sun.
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