| Gasteria pillansii | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Gasteria pillansii in cultivation | |
Scientific classification  | |
| Kingdom: | Plantae |
| Clade: | Tracheophytes |
| Clade: | Angiosperms |
| Clade: | Monocots |
| Order: | Asparagales |
| Family: | Asphodelaceae |
| Subfamily: | Asphodeloideae |
| Genus: | Gasteria |
| Species: | G. pillansii |
| Binomial name | |
| Gasteria pillansii | |
Gasteria pillansii (Namaqua gasteria) is succulent plant native to the arid winter-rainfall regions in the far west of South Africa and Namibia.
This species of Gasteria has its strap-shaped leaves in two opposite rows (distichous), and is very variable in its appearance, and especially in its size. Its flowers are 25–45 mm long, with only slightly swollen bases for up to one-third of the length. [3]
In its vegetative appearance, it looks very similar to its two closest relatives, Gasteria disticha and Gasteria brachyphylla to the south, which are also distichous. However, the flowers are different, with G. disticha having smaller flowers of just 12–20 mm which have flower bases that are inflated or swollen for roughly two-thirds of the flower length. [3]
It is proliferous, offsetting from underground stolons, and can form large clumps. It has pink flowers which appear in mid-summer around December. The seeds develop in time to be dispersed during the rains of autumn and winter.
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.
In cultivation it is very easy to grow, but requires a dry summer to match its natural habitat. They also require extremely well-drained sandy soil, and are prone to "Fusarium" root rot.
Haworthia is a large genus of small succulent plants endemic to Southern Africa (Mozambique, Namibia, Lesotho, Eswatini and South Africa).
Aloidendron dichotomum, formerly Aloe dichotoma, the quiver tree or kokerboom, is a tall, branching species of succulent plant, indigenous to Southern Africa, specifically in the Northern Cape province of South Africa, and parts of Southern Namibia.
Gasteria is a genus of succulent plants, native to South Africa and the far south-west corner of Namibia.
Pachypodium namaquanum, also known as halfmens or elephants trunk, is a succulent plant of Southern Africa. The genus name Pachypodium is from the Greek for 'thick foot', an allusion to its swollen base, while the species name namaquanum is a reference to Namaqualand.
Aloidendron pillansii, formerly Aloe pillansii, the giant quiver tree or bastard quiver tree, is a large, branching species of succulent plant indigenous to southern Africa. It is regarded as critically endangered.
The genus Quaqua falls within the tribe of plants known collectively as stapeliads. All stapeliads, including Quaqua, are Old World stem succulents.
Gasteria armstrongii is a dwarf succulent plant native to South Africa, in the genus Gasteria.
Haworthia truncata, locally known as horse's teeth, is a species of succulent plant in the genus Haworthia. It is found in the Little Karoo region, in the far east of the Western Cape Province, South Africa.
Haworthiopsis tessellata, formerly Haworthia tessellata, is a species of the genus Haworthiopsis belonging to the family Asphodelaceae. It has been considered a subspecies of its close relative, Haworthiopsis venosa.
Robertson Karoo is a semi-arid vegetation type, restricted to sections of the Breede River Valley, Western Cape Province, South Africa. It is a subtype of Succulent Karoo and is characterised by the dominance of succulent plant species, and by several endemic plants and animals.
Gasteria acinacifolia is succulent plant native to the Eastern Cape Province, South Africa.
Gasteria disticha is succulent plant native to the Western Cape, South Africa.
Gasteria bicolor is a species of succulent flowering plant in the family Asphodelaceae, native to the Eastern Cape, South Africa.
Gasteria nitida, the Bathurst gasteria, is a succulent plant, native to the Eastern Cape grasslands of South Africa.
Gasteria batesiana is a species of succulent plant, native to the inland escarpment in the far north-east of South Africa.
Gasteria carinata is a small and variable succulent plant, native to the Western Cape Province, South Africa.
Gasteria brachyphylla is succulent plant native to the Western Cape, South Africa.
Gasteria baylissiana, Suurberg gasteria, is a species of succulent flowering plant in the family Asphodelaceae, native to the Eastern Cape, South Africa.
Aloeae is a tribe of succulent plants in the subfamily Asphodeloideae of the family Asphodelaceae, consisting of the aloes and their close relatives. The taxon may also be treated as the subfamily Alooideae by those botanists who retain the narrower circumscription of Asphodelaceae adopted prior to the APG III system. Typically, plants have rosettes of more or less succulent leaves, with or without a distinct stem. Their flowers are arranged in racemes and tend to be either small and pale, pollinated by insects, or larger and more brightly coloured, pollinated by birds. As of 2017, 11 genera are recognized, most created since 2010 by splitting off another five genera from Aloe and another two from Haworthia. Only two genera, Aloe and Aloidendron, are native outside southern Africa, extending northwards to the Arabian Peninsula. Seven genera are restricted to South Africa, some with small ranges. Members of the Aloeae are cultivated by succulent plant enthusiasts; Aloe species especially are used in temperate climates as ornamental garden plants. Some species are used in traditional medicine. Aloe vera and Aloe ferox are cultivated for their extracts, whose uses include moisturizers and emollients in cosmetics.
Crassula atropurpurea is a succulent plant, very common and widespread in the southern Karoo regions of South Africa and Namibia.
