Gasteria retusa

G. retusa

Section Longiflorae, Series Multifariae

Gasteria retusa used to be G. carinata var. retusa but was raised to species level in 2007. Although it look superficially like a G. carinata var. verrucosa, it's habitat in Succulent Karoo on the lower slopes of the Langeberg is quite different from that of verrucosa.

G. retusa Heidelberg, GA151

Plant shape

G. retusa remains distichous and has some clear characteristics that distinghuish it from other plants:

Leaves are rather short and strap shaped, not elongated triangular as in G. carinata var. verrucosa. They also have a tendency to undulate.

They are covered in very clear white tubercles that may merge into transversal bands. The base colour is green or olive green. The leaf tips are truncate, not pointed and may have a notch at the end.

G. retusa produces numerous offshoots from the base and form clusters.

Flowers

Flowers are very like G. carinata. The inflorescence is simple, unbranched.

Variability

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

Where

G. retusa grows in the upper part of the Breede rivier valley on the southern slopes of the Langeberg. It's habitat is succulent Karoo.

See the distribution map.

More pics

G. retusa from Orange Grove near De Wet. Plants are small, have undulating leaves and olive coloured leaves. GA395

G. retusa? from Heidelberg are larger, with sturdy leaves and a dark blue-green base colour. GA175, CG309.1. Or should thy be classified as G. carinata var. verrucosa?