Astroloba

Life-forms

Classification System: APG IV

Superregnum: Eukaryota
Regnum: Plantae
Cladus: Angiosperms
Cladus: Monocots
Ordo: Asparagales

Familia: Asphodelaceae
Subfamilia: Asphodeloideae
Genus: Astroloba
Subgenera: A. subg. Astroloba – A. subg. Poellnitzia
Sectiones: A. sect. Astroloba – A. sect. Intercedens – A. sect. Inflata – A. sect. Vastora
Species: A. bullulata – A. congesta – A. corrugata – A. cremnophila – A. foliolosa – A. herrei – A. pentagona – A. robusta – A. rubriflora – A. spiralis – A. spirella – A. tenax
Name

Astroloba Uitewaal, Succulenta (Netherlands) 28: 53 (1947).

Type species: Astroloba pentagona (Haw.) Uitewaal

Synonyms

Heterotypic
Aloe sect. Imbricatae Salm-Dyck, Aloes Mesembr. 1: sect. 1 (1836).
Aloe sect. Foliolosae Salm-Dyck, Aloes Mesembr. 1: sect. 2 (1836).
Poellnitzia Uitewaal, Succulenta (Netherlands) 22: 61 (1940), nom. rej. prop.
Type species: Poellnitzia rubriflora (L.Bolus) Uitewaal

References
Primary references

Uitewaal, A.J.A. 1947. Succulenta (Netherlands) 28: 53.

Additional references

Manning, J.C. Boatwright, J.S., Daru, B.H., Maurin, O. & van der Bank, M. 2014. A molecular phylogeny and generic classification of Asphodelaceae subfamily Alooideae: a final resolution of the prickly issue of polyphyly in the alooids? Systematic Botany 39(1): 55–74. DOI: 10.1600/036364414X678044 ResearchGate Reference page.
Molteno, S., Smith, G.F. & Figueiredo, E. 2018. A Synopsis of Astroloba Uitewaal (Asphodelaceae: Alooideae): Species, Types, and Infrageneric Classification. Haseltonia 25(1): 72–83. DOI: 10.2985/026.025.0106 Reference page.
Smith, G.F., Figueiredo, E., Klopper, R.R. & Van Wyk, A.E. 2018. (2580) Proposal to conserve the name Astroloba against Poellnitzia (Asphodelaceae: Alooideae). Taxon 67(1): 206. DOI: 10.12705/671.18 Open access Reference page.

Links

Govaerts, R. et al. 2021. Astroloba in World Checklist of Selected Plant Families. The Board of Trustees of the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew. Published online. Accessed: 2021 Jun 22. Reference page.
International Plant Names Index. 2017. Astroloba. Published online. Accessed: Sept. 12 2017.
USDA, ARS, Germplasm Resources Information Network. Astroloba in the Germplasm Resources Information Network (GRIN), U.S. Department of Agriculture Agricultural Research Service. Accessed: 08-Apr-12.

Astroloba is a genus of flowering plants in the family Asphodelaceae, subfamily Asphodeloideae,[2] native to the Cape Province of South Africa.[1]
Contents

1 Naming
2 Description
3 Distribution and habitat
4 Species
5 References

Naming
Detail of Astroloba inflorescence (here, Astroloba corrugata)

The name of the genus is derived from the Greek words astros, star, and lobos, lobe, and refers to the starlike shape of the petals, which appear at the end of the tube-like flowers.
Description

They are very closely related to the genus Haworthia, but are distinguished by their flowers being regular and not double-tipped. The flowers are small and white, and appear clustered on slender racemes.[3]
Distribution map of the Astroloba species
Astroloba species - flowering times.png

They bear very regular, sharp, triangular, succulent leaves along their symmetrical columnar stems. The leaves are in a number of distinctive spiral arrangements.[4] They are slow growing, multi-stemmed, and their longer stems tend to sprawl in their rocky natural habitat.

Within the genus, various subgroupings can be recognised, based on shared characteristics. The Foliolosa Complex (including the entities robusta, foliolosa and congesta) can be distinguished by the glossy sheen to their leaves, and by their flowers with long bracts, short pedicels, smooth perianth tubes and broad cream-white lobes.
Distribution and habitat

These species are restricted to the dryer inland regions of the southern Cape, South Africa. In their arid natural habitat, they tend to favour semi-shade positions, with well-drained soil and winter rainfall.[5]
Species

As of June 2021, the World Checklist of Selected Plant Families accepted twelve species. An overall list of species recognised include the following:[6][7][8][9]

Astroloba bullulata (Jacq.) Uitewaal
Astroloba pentagona (Haw.) Uitewaal (="hallii" nom. nud.)
Astroloba congesta (Salm-Dyck) Uitewaal
Astroloba corrugata N.L.Mey. & Gideon F.Sm.
Astroloba cremnophila van Jaarsv.
Astroloba foliolosa (Haw.) Uitewaal
Astroloba herrei Uitewaal[10]
Astroloba robusta P.Reinecke ex Molteno, Van Jaarsv. & Gideon F.Sm.[11]
Astroloba rubriflora (L.Bolus) Gideon F.Sm. & J.C.Manning (also known as Poellnitzia rubriflora)
Astroloba spiralis (L.) Uitewaal
Astroloba spirella (Haw.) Molteno & Gideon F.Sm. (="smutsiana" nom. nud.)
Astroloba tenax Molteno, van Jaarsv. & Gideon F.Sm.[12]

Natural hybrids of these species occur, and there are several varieties which are unresolved as to whether they constitute intermediate forms, hybrids or separate species. In addition there are naturally occurring hybrids between species of Astroloba and Tulista (formerly Haworthia Robustipedunculares), including the well-known ones named × Astrolista bicarinata (formerly x Astroworthia bicarinata / skinneri) which are crosses between Astroloba corrugata and Tulista pumila.[13]

References

"Astroloba", World Checklist of Selected Plant Families, Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew, retrieved 2013-06-09
Stevens, P.F. (2001 onwards), "Asphodeloideae", Angiosperm Phylogeny Website, retrieved 2016-06-10
Eggli, Urs; Newton, Leonard E. (2010), Etymological Dictionary of Succulent Plant Names, Berlin/Heidelberg: Springer, ISBN 978-3-642-05597-3, p. 17
Molteno S. (2022). "Phyllotaxis in Asphodelaceae subfam. Alooideae: a tool in taxon delimitation." Haseltonia 28(1), https://doi.org/10.2985/026.028.0107
S. Molteno, G. Smith, E. Van Jaarsveld. (2017) Extending the Natural Distribution Range of Astroloba herrei Uitewaal (Asphodelaceae: Alooideae): Implications for Its Conservation Status. Haseltonia. pg(s) 39–47 ISSN 1938-2898
Molteno S., Smith G.F., Figueiredo E. (2018). "A Synopsis of Astroloba Uitewaal (Asphodelaceae: Alooideae): Species, Types, and Infrageneric Classification," Haseltonia 25: 72-83, https://doi.org/10.2985/026.025.0106
Search for "Astroloba", World Checklist of Selected Plant Families, Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew, retrieved 2013-06-09
Pandora Roberts Reinecke: Genus Astroloba Uitewaal (Liliaceae). MSc thesis. UCT Department of Biological Sciences. 1965.
Introduction to the Astroloba species
GF. Smith, E. Figueiredo, S. Molteno (2018) Lectotypification of Astroloba herrei Uitewaal (Asphodelaceae: Alooideae). Bradleya 36, pg(s) 224-226
G.Smith, E.Figeueiredo, S.Molteno (2017): Astroloba robusta: A new species from the Great Karoo, South Africa. Bradleya 35, pp. 201-211.
S.Molteno, E.van Jaarsveld, G.Smith. (2017): Astroloba tenax Molteno, Van Jaarsv. & Gideon F.Sm., a new species from the Groot Swartberg Mountain, South Africa. Bradleya 35, pp. 139-149.
G.Smith, E.Figeueiredo, S.Molteno (2017): xAstrolista: A new name for the South African endemic nothogenus x Astroworthia. Bradleya 35, pp. 195-200.