''Gasteria bicolor'' (previously named ''Gasteria obliqua'' or ''Gasteria maculata'') is a

species In biology, a species is the basic unit of classification and a taxonomic rank of an organism, as well as a unit of biodiversity. A species is often defined as the largest group of organisms in which any two individuals of the appropriate s ...

succulent In botany, succulent plants, also known as succulents, are plants with parts that are thickened, fleshy, and engorged, usually to retain water in arid climates or soil conditions. The word ''succulent'' comes from the Latin word ''sucus'', meani ...

flowering plant Flowering plants are plants that bear flowers and fruits, and form the clade Angiospermae (), commonly called angiosperms. The term "angiosperm" is derived from the Greek words ('container, vessel') and ('seed'), and refers to those plants th ...

in the

family Family (from la, familia) is a Social group, group of people related either by consanguinity (by recognized birth) or Affinity (law), affinity (by marriage or other relationship). The purpose of the family is to maintain the well-being of its ...

Asphodelaceae, native to the

Eastern Cape The Eastern Cape is one of the provinces of South Africa. Its capital is Bhisho, but its two largest cities are East London and Gqeberha. The second largest province in the country (at 168,966 km2) after Northern Cape, it was formed in ...

South Africa South Africa, officially the Republic of South Africa (RSA), is the southernmost country in Africa. It is bounded to the south by of coastline that stretch along the South Atlantic and Indian Oceans; to the north by the neighbouring countri ...

Description

This is a very variable species of ''

Gasteria ''Gasteria'' is a genus of succulent plants, native to South Africa (and the far south-west corner of Namibia). Naming The genus is named for its stomach-shaped flowers (''"gaster"'' is Latin for "stomach") that result from the swollen base on t ...

'', common in cultivation. It grows multiple proliferous stems, all covered in untidy masses of the shiny, mottled, colourful, succulent leaves. It usually forms rosettes, but can sometimes be

distichous In botany, phyllotaxis () or phyllotaxy is the arrangement of leaves on a plant stem. Phyllotactic spirals form a distinctive class of patterns in nature. Leaf arrangement The basic arrangements of leaves on a stem are opposite and alternat ...

, especially in cultivation. The leaves can also occasionally develop a keel. Each leaf has a sharp point on the tip. The flowers generally appear on a long stem of about , that carries tubular bell-shaped pink to orange flowers. There are three major varieties, which grade into each other: * ''Gasteria bicolor'' var. ''bicolor'' (Haw.) The more widespread type variety. * ''Gasteria bicolor'' var. ''fallax'' (Haw.) A variety with narrow, elongated, linear, mottled leaves (c.140 x 11mm). Dense clumps are known from the

Albany thicket The Albany thickets is an ecoregion of dense woodland in southern South Africa, which is concentrated around the Albany region of the Eastern Cape (whence the region's name originates). Geography The thickets grow on well-drained sandy soils i ...

s near Swartwaterspoort. * ''Gasteria bicolor'' var. ''lilliputana'' (Poelln.) Previously classed as the species ''"Gasteria liliputana"''. The smallest variety in the entire genus ''Gasteria'', the rosettes are around wide. The foliage is dark green with white spots. It is relatively rare and occurs in the Grahamstown area.

Distribution

''G. bicolor'' naturally occurs over a wide area of the Eastern Cape. In its natural habitat, it is typically found on rocky slopes and outcrops in the thicket vegetation of the region, and is particularly common around

Port Elizabeth Gqeberha (), formerly Port Elizabeth and colloquially often referred to as P.E., is a major seaport and the most populous city in the Eastern Cape province of South Africa. It is the seat of the Nelson Mandela Bay Metropolitan Municipality, Sou ...

, a summer rainfall region. Its natural range overlaps with several other species of ''

''.

Cultivation

This species is popular in cultivation, although it is slow growing. It prefers well-drained rich soil and summer watering. Only hardy down to , in temperate regions it must be grown under glass in the winter months. Cultivation requirements are similar to those for other succulents and cacti. The variety ''G. bicolor'' var. ''lilliputana'' has gained the

Royal Horticultural Society The Royal Horticultural Society (RHS), founded in 1804 as the Horticultural Society of London, is the UK's leading gardening charity. The RHS promotes horticulture through its five gardens at Wisley (Surrey), Hyde Hall (Essex), Harlow Carr (Nort ...

’s

Award of Garden Merit The Award of Garden Merit (AGM) is a long-established annual award for plants by the British Royal Horticultural Society (RHS). It is based on assessment of the plants' performance under UK growing conditions. History The Award of Garden Merit ...

References

{{Taxonbar, from=Q1439759 Flora of the Cape Provinces bicolor