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 | |
| Synonyms | |
|
Astroloba pentagona 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 upright, erect stems that are densely covered in pointed succulent leaves. Stems are roughly 15cm in diameter, and reach a height of 200mm.
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). Each leaf typically has an oblique keel near the point. The flowers appear in autumn (December to May).
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.
A variety of this plant is sometimes recognised as a separate species, Astroloba pentagona, that bears its leaves at a 45 degree angle from the stem, in 5 rows, and has tiny tubercles on the leave margins and keels (of which each leaf may have several).[2]
Distribution
It is indigenous to the southern edge of the Karoo region of South Africa, extending through the Little Karoo from the Graaff Reinet District in the Eastern Cape Great Karoo, as far as Oudtschoorn in the Western Cape, where it gradually grades into Astroloba smutsiana.[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