Gasteria disticha

Life-forms

Classification System: APG IV

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

Familia: Asphodelaceae
Subfamilia: Asphodeloideae
Genus: Gasteria
Sectio: G. sect. Gasteria
Series: G. ser. Gasteria
Species: Gasteria disticha
Varietas: G. d. var. disticha – G. d. var. langebergensis – G. d. var. robusta
Name

Gasteria disticha (L.) Haw., Philos. Mag. Ann. Chem. 2(10): 352. 1827
Synonyms

Basionym
Aloe disticha L., Sp. Pl.: 321 (1753)
Homotypic
Ptyas disticha (L.) Salisb., Gen. Pl.: 76 (1866), not validly publ.

Distribution
Native distribution areas:
References

Haworth, A.H. 1827. Philosophical Magazine, or Annals of Chemistry, Mathematics, Astronomy, Natural History and General Science. London 2: 352.
Govaerts, R. et al. 2017. Gasteria disticha in World Checklist of Selected Plant Families. The Board of Trustees of the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew. Published on the internet. Accessed: 2017 Sept. 14. Reference page.
International Plant Names Index. 2017. Gasteria disticha. Published online. Accessed: Sept, 14 2017.
USDA, ARS, Germplasm Resources Information Network. Gasteria disticha in the Germplasm Resources Information Network (GRIN), U.S. Department of Agriculture Agricultural Research Service. Accessed: 09-Oct-10.

Gasteria disticha is succulent plant native to the Western Cape, South Africa.[1]

Description
Gasteria disticha flowers.

This species of Gasteria has its strap-shaped leaves in two opposite rows (distichous), from whence its Latin species name comes. In its vegetative appearance, it looks very similar to the closely related species Gasteria pillansii to the north, and Gasteria brachyphylla to the south-east, both of which are also distichous.

However the flowers are different, with G. disticha having tiny flowers of just 12–20 mm which have flower bases that are inflated or swollen for roughly two-thirds of the flower length. G. disticha often has leaves that undulate slightly, with wavy margins and a rough, mat surface.[2]

It is proliferous, with pink flowers and appears between September and December.
Distribution

It occurs in the Robertson Karoo vegetation of the Breede River Valley in the Western Cape, South Africa. It also extends marginally into the verges of the Great Karoo.

In its natural habitat, it is typically found under rocks or bushes that provide it with some shelter from the sun.
Varieties

G. disticha var. disticha - the type variety, and also the most widely distributed
G. disticha var. langebergensis - dwarf variety from Langvlei, between Worcester and Robertson, with thinner leaves with toothed margins.
G. disticha var. robusta - outlying summer rainfall variety from Beaufort West, with short, fat, robust leaves, and summer flowers.

References

Gasteria disticha - Information page
Comparison of disticha-pillansii