Astroloba corrugata
| Astroloba corrugata | |
|---|---|
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Scientific classification  | |
| Kingdom: | Plantae |
| Clade: | Angiosperms |
| Clade: | Monocots |
| Order: | Asparagales |
| Family: | Xanthorrhoeaceae |
| Subfamily: | Asphodeloideae |
| Genus: | Astroloba |
| Species: | A. corrugata |
| Binomial name | |
| Astroloba corrugata N.L.Mey. & Gideon F.Sm. | |
| Synonyms | |
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Astroloba corrugata is a small succulent plant of the Astroloba genus, endemic to the Little Karoo and the far south of the Western Cape, South Africa.[1]
Naming
This plant has been known by a several names in its history. It was named "Astroloba rugosa" (Roberts Reinecke), "Astroloba aspera", and "Astroloba muricata", before it gained its current name.
Description
Astroloba corrugata is a compact Astroloba species, with slender, sprawling stems (up to 20cm long), densely covered in spirally arranged pointed leaves.
The leaves point outwards, and have slight non-marginated keels. They are green, but become reddish if exposed to direct sun. The outer side of the leaves are covered with distinctive tiny speckled "asperous" tubercles which (unlike Astroloba bullulata) are the same colour as the leaf. These tubercles sometimes tend to cluster in longitudinal lines.
These smaller, more evenly distributed tubercles (sometimes in longitudinal rows on the leaf) are the clearest means of identifying the species, which can also be differentiated by its smaller out-curved leaves with non-marginated tips.
It produces upright sparse inflorescences of creamy-white flowers during the dry summer (October to February), that are sometimes slightly pink or green.
Hybrids and varieties
This species hybridises easily and naturally with Haworthia maxima, with which its natural range overlaps. The resulting hybrids are usually far larger, stockier and more erect than normal A.corrugata. However, with subsequent mixing, these robust traits are reduced and diluted. These hybrids are occasionally mistaken for different species, and given names such as "Astroloba skinneri" or "Astroloba bicarinata".
A normal variety, "A. corrugata var. major" (Haw.), is sometimes recognised, where stems are more robust (5-6 cm wide). However this might also merely be the result of genes descending from distant past Haworthia maxima admixture.[2]
Towards the east of its natural range, A.corrugata becomes smoother and increasingly like its eastern neighbour species, Astroloba smutsiana. A range of different intermediates occur in this transition.[3]
Distribution
It is indigenous to the southern strip of the Western Cape in South Africa, where it occurs in the furthest western corner of the Little Karoo. Here its habitat stretches from Ladismith to Montagu and also extends southwards as far as Worcester and Riversdale. It is generally found on shale or clay flats.[4]
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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.
- ↑ Pandora Roberts Reinecke: Genus Astroloba Uitewaal (Liliaceae). UCT Department of Biological Sciences. 1965.
- ↑ http://redlist.sanbi.org/species.php?species=2210-5