Gasteria pillansii
G. pillansii var. pillansii Cederberg
Section Gasteria, Series namaquana
Gasteria pillansii is the odd one out compared to the others species on two fronts:
it has radically different flowers
it grows along the western side of South Africa. This means a different climate with winter rains and summer droughts.
It occurs from Clanwilliam in South Africa to Witputz in Namibia
Plant shape
Leaves always distichous, surface asperulous with white dots who seldom merge into paler bands. Leaf margins with small white teeth towards leaf end.
Can be confused with G. disticha, but flowers are different.
G. pillansii produces rhizomes that form plantlets some distance from the mother plant. Only G. pulchra does that too.
Flowers
Flowers on an unbranched peduncle 20-40cm long. Some clones may produce a branched peduncle
Flowers 2-3cm. They do not show the typical belly shape of the section Gasteria. They form a tube with some thickening at the base. They look more like an Aloe flower.
Reddish pink with some yellow-green towards the opening
Growing
it is a winter grower: in Europe growth starts in late autumn and will continue throughout winter if possible
Roots are more susceptible for fungus and rot than other G. That is why it requires a high mineral soil content. I grow it in almost pure pumice with some loam added
when in growth, water it like other Gasterias. Keep drier in summer
It can take some more light than other Gasteria
because of it's rhizomes, it produces shoots in the strangest places
Variability
Two described variaties:
G. pillansii var. ernesti-ruschii
Differs from the var. pillansii by having recurved leaves with an elongated laurel shape.
Occurs in the Richtersveld and the mountains in Namibia
G. pillansii var. hallii
Much smaller plants with leaves max 5cm long and 1cm wide. Occurs only in the coastal mountains in Northern Namaqualand( Oograbies)
Where
G. pillansii var pillansii grows on the western side of SA, from the Cederberg northwards along the Namaqualand mountain ridges acroos the Richtersveld up to the mountains near Witputz in Namibia. This follows more or less the mountains on the same area. West of this line a form can be found along the Olifants river near Vredendal; east of the line a very sturdy form can be found on the Bloukrans pass S. of Calvinia.
See the distribution map.
More pics
G. pillansii var. pillansii
large form from Bloukrans pass
ISI1566 from Witputz, Namibia
long leaved form from Langkloof farm, Cederberg
'Krakadou', a natural variegated form at Babylonstoren
obtuse tip, white dots, small white teeth and an asperulous surface