Astroloba subg. Astroloba sect. Vastora
Astroloba subgenus Astroloba section Vastora
Family: Asphodelaceae
Common names:
Introduction
The species in this section have leaves that are glossy. Due to their relatively small divergence angle, the leaves form five ranks that are either vertical or spiral counter to the direction of the generative spiral. The flowers have relatively short pedicels and white lobes that often flare outwards. The three species are all relatively widespread, occurring on gentle slopes or level rocky terrain in the southern Great Karoo.
Species
Astroloba congesta (Salm-Dyck) Uitewaal can be distinguished by its smooth, glossy, unadorned yellow-green leaves; the flowers that are born on very short pedicels, with white or cream lobes, and perianth segments that are not inflated next to the midrib and smooth to the touch. Inflorescences are often branched. It occurs in karroid and valley bushveld vegetation in the Eastern Cape, and has the eastern-most distribution range in genus. This species flowers in late spring, from October to November.
Astroloba foliolosa (Haw.) Uitewaal can be distinguished by its tiny, patent, glossy, unadorned yellow-green leaves; the flowers that are born on very short pedicels, with white or cream lobes, and with perianth segments that are not inflated next to the midrib and smooth to the touch. It occurs in karroid and valley bushveld vegetation in the Western and Eastern Cape. This species flowers in late winter, spring and summer, from August to March.
Astroloba robusta P.Reineke ex Molteno, Van Jaarsv. & Gideon F.Sm. can be distinguished by its glossy, grey-green leaves, with whitish margins and keel, the leaf surfaces that occasionally have white spots or elongated tubercules and occasionally dark lines; the flowers that are born sessile or almost sessile on extremely short pedicels, with recurved white lobes, and perianth segments that are not inflated next to midrib and smooth to the touch. The stalk (peduncle) of the unbranched inflorescence is very thick and robust, usually with two large striated bracts. This is the most widespread species in the genus, and occurs on shale flats and rocky undulating slopes across the southern Great Karoo in the Western and Eastern Cape. This species flowers in autumn, winter and spring, from May to October.
Credits
Go to Astroloba genus page
Ronell R Klopper
Foundational Biodiversity Sciences: SANBI,
Gideon F Smith
Nelson Mandela Metropolitan University
and
Steven Molteno
Molteno Botanical Consulting.
September 2023
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