Astroloba congesta is a compact Astroloba species, with circa 7 cm wide stems that are densely covered in sharply-pointed leaves, which sometimes grow in tiers, or in a rough spiral. The leaves are a glossy green in colour, concave on their upper faces, smooth, sharp with slight keels, and point upwards and outwards.
Like its closest relatives - Astroloba foliolosa and robusta, it produces cream-white flowers in the rainy season (September–January in habitat), tinged with green, on unusually short pedicels. However, the inflorescence of A. congesta is often branched. It is easily confused with its close relative to the west, Astroloba foliolosa, and the two species form a transition. Astroloba congesta can be distinguished by its larger, straighter, less compact leaves.[2]
Distributionedit
It is indigenous to the Eastern Cape Province, South Africa. Here it is confined to the Districts of Albany, Cradock and Bedford. This is an area of relatively high rainfall, 300–450 mm, which falls predominantly in the summer.[3]
"Deltoidea" varietyedit
The "deltoidea" form from the far south - previously incorrectly classed as a separate species
This smaller form, from rocky areas of the Zuurberg mountains, was previously classed as a separate species, Astroloba deltoidea. It has smooth, rigid, shiny leaves.
Referencesedit
^U. Eggli: Illustrated Handbook of Succulent Plants: Monocotyledons. Springer Science & Business Media, 2001. p.187.
^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
^"Threatened Species Programme | SANBI Red List of South African Plants".
Further readingedit
Wikimedia Commons has media related to Astroloba congesta.
Astroloba congesta - Introduction and images
Astroloba congesta - SANBI redlist
May 03, 2024
astroloba, congesta, small, succulent, plant, astroloba, genus, indigenous, eastern, cape, south, africa, scientific, classification, kingdom, plantae, clade, tracheophytes, clade, angiosperms, clade, monocots, order, asparagales, family, asphodelaceae, subfam. Astroloba congesta is a small succulent plant of the Astroloba genus indigenous to the Eastern Cape South Africa 1 Astroloba congesta Scientific classification Kingdom Plantae Clade Tracheophytes Clade Angiosperms Clade Monocots Order Asparagales Family Asphodelaceae Subfamily Asphodeloideae Genus Astroloba Species A congesta Binomial name Astroloba congesta Salm Dyck Uitewaal Synonyms Astroloba turgida Baker Astroloba deltoidea Uitewaal Contents 1 Description 2 Distribution 3 Deltoidea variety 4 References 5 Further readingDescription edit nbsp Astroloba congesta leaves Astroloba congesta is a compact Astroloba species with circa 7 cm wide stems that are densely covered in sharply pointed leaves which sometimes grow in tiers or in a rough spiral The leaves are a glossy green in colour concave on their upper faces smooth sharp with slight keels and point upwards and outwards Like its closest relatives Astroloba foliolosa and robusta it produces cream white flowers in the rainy season September January in habitat tinged with green on unusually short pedicels However the inflorescence of A congesta is often branched It is easily confused with its close relative to the west Astroloba foliolosa and the two species form a transition Astroloba congesta can be distinguished by its larger straighter less compact leaves 2 Distribution editIt is indigenous to the Eastern Cape Province South Africa Here it is confined to the Districts of Albany Cradock and Bedford This is an area of relatively high rainfall 300 450 mm which falls predominantly in the summer 3 Deltoidea variety edit nbsp The deltoidea form from the far south previously incorrectly classed as a separate species This smaller form from rocky areas of the Zuurberg mountains was previously classed as a separate species Astroloba deltoidea It has smooth rigid shiny leaves References edit U Eggli Illustrated Handbook of Succulent Plants Monocotyledons Springer Science amp Business Media 2001 p 187 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 Threatened Species Programme SANBI Red List of South African Plants Further reading edit nbsp Wikimedia Commons has media related to Astroloba congesta Astroloba congesta Introduction and images Astroloba congesta SANBI redlist Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Astroloba congesta amp oldid 1195213348, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
