Gasteria koenii

G. koenii

Section Gasteria, Series Gasteria

Gasteria koenii was discovered by conservationist Kevin Koen in 2010 in some remote valleys in the foothills of the Great Swartberg north of Calitzdorp. It was described by EVJ in 2017 in Haseltonia 23: 48–52.

It is a medium sized Gasteria with smooth leaves and curving upwards.

It is certainly related to G. brachyphylla from the same section and which grows abundantly in it's vicinity, but the leaf shape is very different . G. koenii leaves are long and narrow and curve vertically if it grows on a steep slope. A young plant may be mistaken for a G. bracchyphylla.

Gasteria koenii has been named after it's finder Kevin Koen.

G. koenii young plant shows the elongated triangular smooth leaves

Plant shape

G. koenii grows into a rozette after being first distichous.

Leaves are elongated triangular in shape, even spear shaped. Leaves can reach a lenght of 30cm and 5cm broad at the base. if the plant grows on a slope they curve strongly upwards. In a pot I have not observed this so far.

The leaf surface is smooth with a grass to dark green base colour. Pale spots are scattered over the surface. The margin is entire. The leaf tip has a sharp hard point.

G. koenii readily produces shoots from the base to form clumps

G. koenii flower

Flowers

The inflorescence is branched and up to 70cm long.

The flowers have a pink gasteriform part with a white tube with green striations. they are between 2-2.5cm long.

Variability

G. koenii does not have any described varieties or subspecies.

Where

G. koenii has only been found in a few remote valleys below the Osberg, part of the Great Swartberg range. It grows in partial shade. The climate is mild with no frost in winter and hot summers.

Gasteria koenii

Plant shape

Flowers

Variability

Where

More pics