Gasteria brachyphylla
Gasteria brachyphylla ("Klein Karoo gasteria") is succulent plant native to the Western Cape, South Africa.
| Gasteria brachyphylla | |
|---|---|
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| Gasteria brachyphylla in habitat, near Zoar | |
Scientific classification  | |
| Kingdom: | Plantae |
| Clade: | Tracheophytes |
| Clade: | Angiosperms |
| Clade: | Monocots |
| Order: | Asparagales |
| Family: | Asphodelaceae |
| Subfamily: | Asphodeloideae |
| Genus: | Gasteria |
| Species: | G. brachyphylla |
| Binomial name | |
| Gasteria brachyphylla (L.) Haw. | |
Description
This species of Gasteria has its strap-shaped leaves in two opposite rows (distichous). Its flowers are 12–22 mm long. It very closely resembles its two relatives, Gasteria pillansii and Gasteria disticha to the north, both of which are also distichous.
However G. brachyphylla can be distinguished by its very shiny, smooth leaves (its two relatives' leaves are rough with tiny tubercles). "Brachyphylla" means "wide/short leaves", and this species's leaves are shorter than its relatives'.
It is proliferous, and has pink flowers which appear around September.
Botanical sketch by Maria Moninckx
Inflorescence, growing west of Ladismith
Distribution
It occurs under shrubs in the Succulent Karoo vegetation of the Little Karoo in the Western Cape, South Africa. It is found as far west as Barrydale, and as far east as Uniondale.[1]
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