Gasteria langebergensis

G. brachyphylla var. brachyphylla

Section Longiflorae, Series Mulitfariae

Gasteria langebergensis received its name obviously from the Langeberg, the mountain range that forms the southern border of the Little Karoo and that stretches more or less from Worcester to Riversdale in the east.

This Gasteria used to be called G. disticha var. langebergensis but was raised to species level in 2019. This was due to DNA analysis which revealed a closer relationship to G. carinata and G. retusa. This is also the reason that it is classified in the Section Longiflorae, Series Mulitfariae.

It is a small Gasteria and is found in valleys on the slopes of the Langeberg west of Robertson.

G. langebergensis , at Buitenstekloof

Plant shape

Gasteria langebergensis remains distichous with starp shaped leaves with an asperulous surface with numerous pale spots. The leaf margin has numerous white teeth at the leaf end, a feature also encountered in G. pillansii.

It could be confused with G. pillansii but this one has very different flowers, or with G. disticha, a species found nearby but which lacks the denticulous margin, has broader leaves and slightly smaller flowers.

no picture available

Flowers

G. langebergensis has a long inflorescence up to 80cm long.

The flowers are pink with a tube white with a green striation, 2cm long

They are edible and taste of fresh peas.

Variability

G. langebergensis has no described varieties

Where

G. langebergensis grows only on dolomite outcrops in a small region of the lower foothills of the Langeberg west of Robertson. It grows well hidden under protective bushes, often under Carissa bispinosum, 'noem-noem', a very spiny bush which protects it from predators.

See the distribution map.

More pics

the foothills of the Langeberg

Carissa bispinosum , 'noem-noem', is a very spiny shrub offering protection for defenceless succulents