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Astroloba pentagona

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Astroloba pentagona
Scientific classification Edit this classification
Kingdom: Plantae
Clade: Tracheophytes
Clade: Angiosperms
Clade: Monocots
Order: Asparagales
Family: Asphodelaceae
Subfamily: Asphodeloideae
Genus: Astroloba
Species:
A. pentagona
Binomial name
Astroloba pentagona
(Haw.) Uitewaal

Astroloba pentagona (="hallii" nom. nud.) is a small succulent plant of the genus Astroloba, restricted to an area of the western section of the Little Karoo, South Africa.[1]

Description

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Astroloba pentagona in habitat

This plant resembles a lower, more robust variety of A. bullulata. Its lighter green leaves are thinner than those of bullulata, and have dark longitudinal lines on the leaf undersides. Some specimens also have inconspicuous pale spots, which tend to form in longitudinal rows on the leaves. The leaves densely cover the stems which reach a height of 15 cm. The flowers occur from November till May and have a lighter colour compared to those of A. bullulata.

It occurs south and east of Lainsburg, on rocky ridges in shale soils.[2][3]

This species is sometimes referred to by the unpublished name "Astroloba hallii".[4]

References

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  1. ^ S. Molteno, GF. Smith, E. Figueiredo: "A synopsis of Astroloba Uitewaal (Asphodelaceae: Alooideae): species, types, and infrageneric classification." Haseltonia 25, 2018. pp.72–83. https://doi.org/10.2985/026.025.0106
  2. ^ U. Eggli: Illustrated Handbook of Succulent Plants: Monocotyledons. Springer Science & Business Media, 2001. p.187.
  3. ^ S. Molteno, GF. Smith: "The identity and typification of Astroloba pentagona (Haw.) Uitewaal (Asphodelaceae: Alooideae), the type species of the genus Astroloba Uitewaal." Haseltonia 25, 2018. pp.57–7. https://doi.org/10.2985/026.025.0105
  4. ^ Pandora Roberts Reinecke: Genus Astroloba Uitewaal (Liliaceae). UCT Department of Biological Sciences. 1965.

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