''Gasteria croucheri'' ("Natal Gasteria") is a

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 ...

plant Plants are predominantly photosynthetic eukaryotes of the kingdom Plantae. Historically, the plant kingdom encompassed all living things that were not animals, and included algae and fungi; however, all current definitions of Plantae exclud ...

, native to

KwaZulu-Natal KwaZulu-Natal (, also referred to as KZN and known as "the garden province") is a province of South Africa that was created in 1994 when the Zulu bantustan of KwaZulu ("Place of the Zulu" in Zulu) and Natal Province were merged. It is locate ...

Province,

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

It is one of the larger Gasteria species (up to 400 by 600mm), closely related to '' Gasteria excelsa'' just to the south, and to '' Gasteria batesiana'' to the north. It has smooth, thick, straight leaves. These are dark grey-green, and lightly spotted (though juvenile plants sometimes have some rough tubercles). In full sun or under stress, the leaves can assume a purple colour. The leaves have hard, waxy, white margins and keels. The upper surface of the leaves are slightly concave. They are lanceolate and trigonous, with a point that is rounded but with a tiny spike. Juvenile plants have

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 ...

leaves (their flat leaves in two opposite ranks) but adult plants form an erect rosette, with thick, sharp, keeled leaves. The tall inflorescence appears at the beginning of summer.

Distribution

This species occurs mainly in

Province as far north as

Durban Durban ( ) ( zu, eThekwini, from meaning 'the port' also called zu, eZibubulungwini for the mountain range that terminates in the area), nicknamed ''Durbs'',Ishani ChettyCity nicknames in SA and across the worldArticle on ''news24.com'' from ...

. In the south it also extends slightly into 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 ...

but only as far as the

Mzimvubu River Mzimvubu River or Umzimvubu River is one of the most important rivers in South Africa. It is located in the Eastern Cape Province. Course The river has its source in the northern region of the Eastern Cape, in the area of Matatiele and Mount Fle ...

. This is a relatively wet region, and its habitat is typically cliff faces or rocky outcrops. It is especially common on rocky slopes near the coast. To the north of its range, it becomes more like '' Gasteria tukhelensis'' or '' Gasteria batesiana'', becoming smaller and offsetting to form clumps. To the south, it gradually changes into '' Gasteria excelsa'', becoming larger and solitary (non-clumping).

Subspecies

Gasteria pendulifolia - Kirstenbosch NBG

* ''G. croucheri subsp. croucheri'': The typical and widespread subspecies. * ''G. croucheri subsp. pendulifolia'' van Jaarsv.: Rare, distinct, and sometimes considered a separate species. A variable plant with long curved elongated leaves, from cliff faces near Durban. In addition to its thin, pendulous leaves, it can be distinguished by its entire leaf margins, its more bluish leaf colour, its smaller size and its forming of dense clusters.

Traditional use

The

Zulu people Zulu people (; zu, amaZulu) are a Nguni ethnic group native to Southern Africa. The Zulu people are the largest ethnic group and nation in South Africa, with an estimated 10–12 million people, living mainly in the province of KwaZulu-Natal ...

of KwaZulu-Natal call this species "Iqhomololo" or "Impundu" (“The Invisible-maker”) due its use as a medicine for camouflage during war. Considered good luck, it is often planted on roof-tops, in the belief that it will divert lightning. It is currently popular as an ornamental in landscaping. However it has a large root system and benefits from a sufficiently large container.Croucher's Gasteria - Encyclopedia of Succulents
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References

{{Taxonbar, from=Q1387682 Flora of KwaZulu-Natal croucheri Flora of the Cape Provinces Taxa named by John Gilbert Baker Taxa named by Joseph Dalton Hooker