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The majority of Old World succulent monocotyledons are grouped into the Aloaceae, a medium sized family of rosulate leaf succulents including Aloe, Astroloba, Bulbine, Chortolirion, *Gasteria,* Haworthia and Poellnitzia. The largest genus is Aloe with more than 400 species. The Aloaceae are distributed across southern Africa, Arabia, Madagascar and the Mascarene Islands. A few Bulbines are found in Australia. Click on the pictures below for a higher quality image.	Bookstore Cacti Succulent Plants Arid Gardening Webmaster's Choice
*Gasteria* Duval (1809) Greek: gaster = stomach, referring to the flower shape. The 16 species of Gasteria are native to Southern Africa. Their leaves range from an inch to over a foot in length. Leaves are produced in a linear array (distichous), but plants may become rosulate with age. The usually flattish leaves have a waxy surface, which may be attractively banded, furnished with white spots or warty. Leaves of the most fleshy species can be quite brittle. A few species have large triangular leaves. Leaf margins are smooth and may be acute or rounded, usually with an acute tip. Gasterias are popular undemanding indoor plants, tolerating a little shade and infrequent watering. However, some sun ensures a compact growth habit, attractive leaf colouration in some species and abundant flowers. It is a mistake to allow these attractive plants to languish under the staging. The racemes of decorative pink to red flowers produce a good show in the Spring and intermittently throughout the summer. The individual tubular flowers have a distinctive basal bulbosity. The exact shape varies between species and divides the plants into taxonomic groups. Gasteria flowers are edible, raw or cooked and a traditional component of stews. Gasterias seem resistant to most pests, but may be treated prophylactically with systemic insecticides based on Imidacloprid. Leaves are prone to unsightly black spots, which may be discouraged by avoiding humidity and condensation. The black spots will not spread and are the result of the plant sealing off damage or fungal infection with phenolic substances, which oxidise to a dark colour. Single leaves or even a broken part, placed with the basal end touching damp compost will root and produce a whole plant. This takes time but can be useful to resurrect a damaged plant.

Gasteria baylissiana Rauh 1977
A medium-sized species whose dark green leaves are covered in nearly confluent, white tubercles giving an overall greyish appearance.

Native to the Eastern Cape of South Africa.

Gasteria bicolor Haworth 1826 Two sub-species.

Gasteria bicolor var bicolor van Jaarsveld & Ward-Hilhorst 1994
Syn. G. caespitosa von Poellnitz 1938

This variable plant from the Eastern Cape includes numerous plants formerly regarded as separate species. The dark green leaves (3 to 15 inches long) are covered with dense white spots arranged in transverse bands. Leaves grow in a single line at first, tending towards a rosette as more accumulate.

Gasteria bicolor var bicolor
Syn. Gasteria retata Haworth 1827

Gasteria bicolor var liliputiana van Jarsveld 1992
Syn. G. liliputiana von Poellnitz 1938

		This small form of G. bicolor is native to the Eastern Cape of South Africa. The leaves are from less than an inch up to 10 inches long and tend to form rosettes. Racemes of pale pink flowers striped in green at their tips, are produced freely in the Spring.

		*Gasteria brachyphylla var. brachyphylla* van Jaarsveld & Ward-Hilhorst 1994 This is quite a large, solid looking plant with opposite fleshy, triangular leaves arranged in a single line (distichous). The smooth surfaces of the leaves are marked with many white spots, in bands or randomly distributed. Native to the Western Cape of South Africa.

*Gasteria carinata* Duval 1809 Five subspecies incorporating many plants that were formerly regarded as separate species.
			*Gasteria carinata var. carinata* van Jaarsveld & Ward-Hilhorst 1994 Syn. Gasteria parvifolia Baker 1880 This variable plant from the Western Cape includes numerous synonyms. The leaves start out in a single line (distichous) becoming more rosulate with age. The leaves have a distinct keel and their surfaces are dotted with many tiny white tubercles.

Gasteria carinata var. verrucosa van Jaarsveld 1992

Another variable subspecies whose leaf surfaces are covered with many tiny white tubercles.


Above: *G. carinata var. verrucosa* van Jaarsveld 1992 Syn. G. verrucosa Duval 1809		Above: *G. carinata var. verrucosa* Syn. G. verrucosa var. latifolia Haworth 1821


		*Gasteria dicta* NE Brown 1876 An unresolved name for a plant that appears in many collections. Very similar to G. disticha.

Gasteria disticha Haworth 1827 (Beestong = ox tongue)

This species from the Western Cape includes numerous synonyms that were once separate species.

Gasteria glomerata van Jaarsveld 1991
A compact plant with an unspotted but slightly roughened grey-green leaf surface. Leaves grow in a single line (distichous) but the plant clumps up freely to make a mat.

Native to the Eastern Cape of South Africa.

Gasteria multipunctata

This doesn't seem to be a valid name. May be of garden origin.

*Gasteria nitida var. nitida* van Jaarsveld & Ward-Hilhorst 1994 Syn. Gasteria obtusa Haworth 1827 The leaves colour up pink in strong light, so the slightly variegated form on the right develops quite attractive pink and green leaves. However, it seems a little reluctant to flower, which should be in mid Summer. Native to the Eastern Cape.
G. nitida var. nitida	G. nitida var. nitida	G. obtusa
		*Gasteria pillansii* Kensit 1909 Native to Namibia and the Northern Cape of South Africa.

		*Gasteria pseudonigricans* Haworth 1827 This doesn't appear to be a vaild name despite the plant appearing in many collections. Could be G. subnigricans which may in turn be a form of G. brachyphylla or just an attractive plant of garden origin.
		*Gasteria rawlinsonii* Obermeyer 1976 (Cliff Gasteria, Kransbeestong) Named for: Mr. I. Rawlinson, South African collector of succulent plants. This plant generally grows in a pendulous manner, but tends to sprawl if grown on a flat surface. The roots are fleshy. The narrow, linear succulent leaves are arranged in two rows (distichous) or may spiral. The leaves are green with faint white spots on their surface but may become reddened in strong light. Leaf margins may have a few small prickles.
Gasteria rawlinsonii is native to the Baviaanskloof mountains of the Eastern Cape of South Africa, where it grows hanging down sandstone cliffs.

	Literature
	Gasterias of South Africa: A New Revision of a Major Succulent Group by E.J. van Jaarsveld (1994) Publisher: Fernwood Press (Pty) Ltd., Vlaeberg, South Africa. ISBN: 1-874950-01-6 - a beautifully illustrated classic, often available second-hand
	Illustrated Handbook of Succulent Plants: Monocotyledons Edited by Urs Eggli (2001) Publisher: Springer-Verlag New York. ISBN: 3540416927 Volume relevant to Gasteria from a series of comprehensive taxonomic treatments of succulent plants.

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