Gasteria carinata
| Gasteria carinata | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Gasteria carinata in cultivation, showing juvenile form at the bottom | |
Scientific classification  | |
| Kingdom: | Plantae |
| Clade: | Angiosperms |
| Clade: | Monocots |
| Order: | Asparagales |
| Family: | Asphodelaceae |
| Subfamily: | Asphodeloideae |
| Genus: | Gasteria |
| Species: | G. carinata |
| Binomial name | |
| Gasteria carinata (J.Jacq.) Haw. / (Mill.) Duval | |
Gasteria carinata ("Bredasdorp Gasteria" or "Keeled Gasteria") is a small and variable succulent plant, native to the Western Cape Province, South Africa.[1]
Description
%3B_flower_and_le_Wellcome_V0044376.jpg)
This is a highly variable species. Typically it has sharp, triangular leaves, mottled in colour and channeled on their upper surface. The leaves have sharp points at their tips, and usually have keels in mature plants. The tiny spots on the leaves are arranged in bands, giving the leaves faint stripes (similar to Gasteria batesiana).
It is proliferous and can form dense clumps.
Distribution
The natural range of this species is the southern stretch of the Western Cape Province, South Africa. Here it occurs in rocky areas in Renosterveld and Fynbos vegetation, between Hermanus and Mossel Bay.
Its closest relative is the enormous "Dune Gasteria (Gasteria acinacifolia) to the east.[2][3]
Varieties
- G. carinata var. carinata: The type variety, and most common one.
- G. carinata var. verrucosa: (limestone in southern coast) Distichous leaves, with dense white tubercles
- G. carinata var. glabra: (east of Gouritz river) Rosettes of smooth glabrous triangular leaves.
- G. carinata var. thunbergii: (on the Gouritz river) Thin, upright, pointed, deeply-channeled leaves. Sometimes considered a separate species, Gasteria thunbergii.[4]
- G. carinata var. retusa: (to the north-west near Worcester) has distichous, erect-spreading leaves with tubercles and wavy leaf margins. Sometimes considered a separate species, Gasteria retusa.[5]
In addition, there are a range of undefined forms, which have become ornamental cultivars:
- "Melkbos" is a large, tubercled form
- "Kykoedie" is a small, compact, tubercled form, with fat, triangular leaves only 60mm long.
- "Mossel Bay" is an eastern, proliferous, smooth form, with spots in bands on its strap-shaped leaves
- "Groot Brak" is a similar eastern, proliferous, smooth form, with fainter spots
- "Klein Brak" has long triangular leaves with faint spots
 |
Wikimedia Commons has media related to Gasteria carinata. |