Gasteria polita

G. polita

Section Longiflorae, Series Longifoliae

Gasteria polita is a medium sized Gasteria and a pretty plant with a very distinct appearance. It's dark green leaves seem to be polished with oil, hence it's name.

It was discovered at Whisky Creek near Plettenberg Bay in the Western Cape. The vegetation in that area close to the coast, is afro-temparate forest in a warm moist climate. Plants grow on rocky outcrops in the shade of shrubs.

G. polita, GA248, showing its broad shiny leaves

Plant shape

G. polita forms a rozette of broad, shiny leaves that can reach a maximum lenght of 25cm.

Leaves are smooth and shiny as if they were oiled. The margins have distinct spaced tubercles who look like pearls. The leaf end is more or less rounded with a small tip.

The base colour is dark green with pale spots often organized into transverse bands.

It could be confused with a small form of G. excelsa of which some forms may have a smooth shiny surface, but the flowers of polita are much larger and the pearls on the margin are typical for polita.

G. polita flowers are large

Flowers

The inflorescense is usually single or with a few side branches and up to 60cm long.

The flowers are reddish pink, tube pale yellow with green striations, about 3.5cm long, so one of the bigger flowers in Gasteria. The fruit capsule is also quite large around 3.5cm

Variability

There are no described varieties or subspecies.

Where

G. polita grows on rocky ledges in Afro-temparate forest west of Plettenberg bay in the Western Cape. It grows on ledges or in rock crevices in shady positions. The soil is acidic, sandy and contains a lot of organic material.

See the distribution map.

More pics

G. polita margin: notice the pearl-like tubercles. A distinguishing feature for the species

G. polita fruit: also quite large