Gasteria pulchra
G. pulchra
Section Longiflorae, Series Multifariae
Gasteria pulchra is seldom seen in collections, perhaps because it is a little less appealing and because of its size?
It is quite a distinctive plant however with its long thin straight rising leaves unmistakable, except that few people know the species and have never seen one.
It grows in dense Albany thicket in a limited area near Patensie and Hankey along the Gamtoos river.
G. pulchra is one of the only Gasteria that give shoots from stolons: you'll notice them popin up on the other side of the pots
G. pulchra, in the NBG collection, South Africa.
© Photo Russell Scot
Plant shape
G. pulchra forms a rozette of long pointed leaves who reach lenghts of 40cm.
Leaves have an smooth, shiny surface with often white spots on a dark green base colour. They are triangular in cross section and flat towards the tip. The tip is hard and sharp.
It could be confused with a large form of G. bicolor, or the var. fallax, but it grows much bigger than the latter. And the flowers are different.
Flowers
The inflorescense is very tall up to 1.5m and much branched.
The flowers are reddish pink, tube pink with darker striations, 1.5-2.5cm.
Variability
There are no described varieties or subspecies.
Where
G. pulchra grows in dense vegetation of Albany thicket in an area between Andrieskraal and Hankey in the Eastern Cape.
See the distribution map.
More pics
G. pulchra young plant. GA337
G. pulchra adult plant. GA127
G. pulchra in situ
© Photo Andries Cilliers